During the Minor Hill Utility District meeting held on Tuesday afternoon, a palpable sense of frustration and concern permeated the atmosphere as residents voiced their grievances regarding unexpectedly inflated water bills. Many customers reported that their charges had suddenly surged, with some bills doubling or even tripling, despite no alterations in their water consumption habits, as reported by WKSR.
Several attendees shared their experiences with the board, highlighting the financial strain these increased charges have imposed on their households. One resident lamented, “We’ve always paid about $40. All of a sudden my bill was $120, and I live in a one-bathroom house — we’re not using that much water.” Another participant mentioned that they had compiled around 200 complaints from social media platforms, urging the board to recognize the issue as a systemic problem rather than merely a collection of isolated incidents.
In response to the residents’ concerns, district officials explained that the dramatic increase in bills was primarily due to errors in billing software and meter readings. They revealed that a software malfunction in September had resulted in some charges failing to process correctly, which subsequently led to the appearance of lumped or duplicate charges when the system attempted to rectify itself. To mitigate further issues, customers are being encouraged to opt for email billing, as some have reported not receiving their paper bills in the mail.
In a move to address these ongoing challenges, the board voted to implement new billing software from Local Government Corporation, the same provider currently utilized by the City of Pulaski and other municipal departments. The rollout of this new system is anticipated to commence in January 2026.
The meeting also highlighted rising tensions within the community, as residents noted that discussions surrounding the billing discrepancies had become increasingly heated online. One speaker even proposed the introduction of new safety measures for the office staff in light of the escalating frustrations.
Board members acknowledged the significant influx of calls and visits the district has been receiving, assuring customers that they are actively working to resolve the billing issues. Affected customers are encouraged to maintain copies of their consecutive bills, regularly photograph their water meters, and request a detailed account review that includes an hourly log pull.
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