Councilmembers Owe Thousands In Unpaid City Bills
MARION, Ohio—Residents and business owners owe the city of Marion more than $5 million in unpaid sewer and sanitation bills.
Two people who owe the city are members of city council and their bills add up to about $10,000, NBC 4‘s Tanya Hutchins reported.
Marion’s mayor said the bills date back to 1982 when the city took over the billing department.
“A lot of those folks that owe us may be deceased, moved out of the county, moved out of the state, we don’t know,“ said Mayor Scott Schertzer.
Two of the people who owe are City Council President Dave Edwards and Finance Committee Chair Ralph Cumston, who own a rental property business together.
Cumston said the majority of the bills come from low- and middle-income tenants.
When you have 53 properties with 77 units, it doesn’t take long. You can accrue $1.500 a month easy and that’s what happened,“ Cumston said.
Cumston said the bills will get paid, but Marion residents are holding councilmembers to a high standard.
“It’s not like it’s $20. It’s a high amount,“ said Susan Dickason, a Marion resident.
“I think that’s wrong. I think everybody should pay their bills. It doesn’t matter if you’re a little peon or the president. You should pay your bills because it sets an example for everyone and your children,“ said Jerry McFarland, a Marion resident.
“It is what it is and I’ve been on council 12 years and when you do this, you expect this. It’s not a problem,“ Cumston said.
Marion eventually gets its money after the utility bills are transferred to the customers’ property tax bill.
For additional information, stay with nbc4i.com and NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at
.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
All you have done is lie, and I have countered every lie with a fact. The only other side you’ve shown is that people like you will lie about anything to cover up these 2 slum lords on council (and you’re doing a horrible job as well).
Once again, I will point out your lies for the maybe 1 or 2 other people reading this (although they already know).
Lie #1: “Yes you guessed it they are backing the independent candidate.“
Fact: No independent candidate is running against either of these councilmen. The deadline to file as an independent is May 3, and no one has signed up as yet.
Lie #2: “So their reporters are going around to all the tenants of these two property owners telling them they will be losing their homes due to foreclosure (totally untrue), and using scare tactics to try to put the property owners out of business by having their tenants move out.“
Fact: No one was coerced to talk AT ALL. I know because my sister-in-law was one of the tenants they interviewed. She said they were nice and concerned.
Lie #3: “...I won’t push you further since it seems you MAY be one of those I speak of.“
Fact: I’m just a dude countering your lies. The only “tie” to any of this I have is that they coincidentally interviewed someone I know.
Lie #4: “What dumbXXX would speak out against their landlord on t.v.? ...One who is being evicted for not paying their bills maybe.“
Fact: Every tenant spoken to showed visual proof during the TV interview that they were up-to-date with their rent.
I’ll give you one thing. I’m not looking for an intelligent conversation with you. Apparently that was never possible to begin with.
Oh yeah, way to smear the tenants during your idiot slander.
Nice try genius, but I don’t actually know them. That’s why my response was w/o bias, and showed a different side of the situation. I have seen and read all these articles and all the personality bashing going on, and have watched the job they’ve done on council. It seems the people most outspoken are the ones with agendas. I do however know some of their tenants, and have seen the tactics mentioned in my first post. You seem to be avoiding that though, so I won’t push you further since it seems you MAY be one of those I speak of. Or maybe you know nothing of this. So I ask why would the station offer airtime to tenants whom will speak against the owners? What dumbXXX would speak out against their landlord on t.v.? One who is being evicted for not paying their bills maybe. In any event you’re obviously not looking for intelligent conversation, so I’m through with you.
No spin about it. You’re a liar, and you have no facts to back up your ridiculous claims. Sorry.
Now fess up. How much money did these slum lords pay you to defend them with lies on a website?
nice spin honto, but you danced around my real point nicely. are you in their pocket too?
FYI there is no independent candidate running against either of these two slum lords. The TV station has reported everything fairly, given everyone a chance to respond, and politicians have walked out of interviews because they don’t want to answer tough questions.
bigwhitedog, your lies serve only to discredit yourself.
This is something and I won’t say it’s not, but no one is saying anything about the Marion T.V. station that is turning this into a political smear campaign. Yes you guessed it they are backing the independent candidate. Cumston and Edwards are Democrats. So their reporters are going around to all the tenants of these two property owners telling them they will be losing their homes due to foreclosure (totally untrue), and using scare tactics to try to put the property owners out of business by having their tenants move out. But that’s okay, right Imagine all these tenants believe this propaganda and decide to cut and run. You think they owe money now. There’s a definite bankruptcy on 50 some properties in an area that’s already depressed. Way to go Channel 22.
Advertisement