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JAMES A. DOOLITTLE & ASSOCIATES, INC. <br />2010 8th AVENUE <br />VERO BEACH, FLORIDA 32880 <br />(407) 587-5226 <br />WE DO A LITTLE MORE, A LITTLE BETTER <br />ATTN: Kenneth R. Macht <br />Board of County Commissioners <br />County Administration Building <br />1840 25th Street <br />Vero Beach, Fl, 32960 <br />Dear Mr. 1Macht, <br />April 18, 1996 <br />In reference to the collection of utility payments, the enclosed <br />copy of Section 201.22 of the Indian River County Ordinances clearly <br />states that <br />"when an account is opened by a non -owner customer, [i.e. <br />tenant] the non -owner customer shall be responsible for <br />payment of all fees and charges; except that the property <br />owner shall be responsible for payment of the base facility <br />charge if not paid by the non -owner customer." <br />This ordinance goes on to further state that <br />"Unpaid utility bills for which the non -owner customer <br />Is responsible shall not be a lien against the <br />owner's property. The property owner shall be responsible <br />for payment of the base facility charge." <br />In practice, however, the County Utilities Department is attempting <br />In many cases to collect from the property owner not only the base -use <br />charges but all unpaid chargee owed by the previous tenants. This is <br />done by refusing to turn on the utilities for the new tenant until <br />such time as the outstanding bills from -the vacating tenant are paid. <br />Although it is 4tilities policy to charge a deposit from each non - <br />owner user, i.e. tenant, they are allowing outstanding -bills to accrue <br />far beyond the amount of the deposit which they have collected. They, <br />then, refuse to turn on utilities for a new tenant -until someone pays <br />the outstanding bill, thus forcing the owner or owner's representative <br />to pay a bill for which the owner is not legally responsible in order <br />to keep his property rented and his own bills paid. In my opinion, <br />this type of coercion reflects poorly on Indian River County. <br />I have written to Mr. Terry Pinto regarding this matter and had a <br />conversation on the phone with him. All of this *as been to no avail <br />In convincing him to change policy. <br />• RESIDENTIAL. COMMERCIAL • SALES • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • REALTOR <br />81 <br />MAY 79 1996 boor 97 996 <br />