LOWNDES COUNTY, GA (WALB) -
The town of Lake Park, in Lowndes County, is cracking down on people who don't pay their water bills.
Seems a lot of people in the town had gotten used to letting it slide, they didn't worry about paying the water bill on time.
But dozens of them got quite a surprise when the city shut off their water.
Lake Park is a small town of only 700, and when 65 people don't pay their water bills, it's a strain on city finances.
"They need this revenue to keep water operations going and to provide clean safe water to the residents of Lake Park," said Rob Plumb, Lake Park City Attorney.
Some customers complain they weren't notified that the city was shutting off their water.
One resident says the city knocked on his door and told him if he didn't pay his bill right then and there, they were going to turn off his water.
But the city says it clearly states on the bill that customers must pay within ten days.
Harry Carnell says for the past four years he's lived in Lake Park, he's never paid his bill each month.
"In past months I get a bill every month, but I pay it every second month, it's the way I've always paid my bills since I've been here. There's been no problems with that," said Carnell.
Resident Brittani Arnold says sometimes she'll go three months without paying her bill.
"I'm never in a rush to pay it because they never cut our water off," said Arnold.
However the city says this is a policy they've always had set in place.
"That argument carries little weight, I mean it's printed on every water bill that if your payment is not made your service is subject to disconnection," said Plumb.
Carnell says since the city has always been lax on the monthly payment policy he has no clue why they decided to enforce it now.
"My bills are number one, and this crap yesterday, why, I don't know," said Carnell.
The city stayed open late last night to allow people to pay their bills. Carnell says he was able to work out a payment plan with the city.
The city says if you don't pay your bill within ten days you will be charged a ten-percent late fee and a five-dollar water reconnection fee.
Copyright 2012 WALB. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
