Peru residents with an outstanding utility charge may see a disruption of service

Residents of Peru with outstanding utility charges with the city may soon begin to see a disruption of service.

“We hate to take drastic action but we can’t let this thing grow as it has been doing,” Alderman Jim Lukosus said.

Lukosus and City Clerk Dave Bartley brought the issue up Monday, which has been talked about at previous council meetings.

As on Monday, the city is owed about $70,000 in delinquent utility charges. On the list of delinquent accounts, the council estimates about 1/3 have not elected to contact City Hall to set up a payment plan or reach out for assistance to handle their outstanding charges.

City officials will be sending out another notice to the delinquent accounts to attempt to resolve as many as possible before having to result in a disruption of service.

Bartley said all of these accounts have been receiving a monthly delinquent notice aside from the three-month hiatus during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“All of the accounts that are on the list are notified monthly that they’re past due,” Bartley said. “There’s a note on the delinquent notice encouraging them to seek assistance either through Tri-County Opportunities or make arrangements through the city.”

Tri-County Opportunities has been active in assisting those in need and have changed their qualifications to include more individuals, according to Bartley. Go to https://tcochelps.org/ or call 1-800-323-5434 for more information.

Bartley and others on the council encourage any resident on the list to reach out for a payment plan or other assistance in order to ensure the balance can be settled.

Bartley also said the accounts have been given extra notice toward the end of 2020. City officials believe now might be the time to take action before the middle of summer hits the Illinois Valley.

Bartley will send out letters to those on the list, setting a timeline for the resident. He will then report back to the council in 30 days with a plan and the council may then choose to take further action.