Family and Friends Water Discount Program

June 10th will be here before you know it and for most of the residents in Lumberton, that means you better have your water bill paid or you will be charged a late fee. Somehow, despite this being the guideline for the City of Lumberton's water department, this rule does not apply to all residents of Lumberton. There is an elite group of citizens that have membership in the unofficial City of Lumberton Friends and Family Water Bill Waiver Program. As a citizen of Lumberton, I would like to know how to get into this program. I am certain that there are other members of the community that would love to know that they can be exempt from paying late fees, reconnection fees, etc. I guess that's one explanation why the clerks don't want any non-Caucasian clerks working in the water department. Just recently, Susan Guidry allegedly said, in the presence of the auditor, that they [the clerks] like to help people when they can't pay their water bills. Well, this is news to my ears. I remember when Rebecca Hale was foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog when she went after Betty Speights for making an adjustment to a certain water bill account, despite the fact that the adjustment was approved by the board of aldermen. But for some reason, the watch dogs of the city seem to have muzzles on their mouths regarding this issue. I wonder why? A former city employee was bragging about the fact that when he goes in to pay his water bill, the clerk usually ask him what would he like to pay on his bill. Really??? Where do they do that at??? Apparently, there are some chosen ones in Lumberton that don't need to look at their bills since amount due does not apply to them. I would love to be able to drive up to the window at city hall and tell them what I want to pay; knowing that I won't have any late fees or reconnection fees. Sue allegedly said that they like to help their customers, well, I would like to know how do they determine which customers they're going to help? Is this courtesy only extended to former city employees. . I don't think that's the case since there have been former and current elected officials that are also members of the City of Lumberton Water Bill Waiver Program. But there are some non-elected officials and individuals that claim they have been given adjustments without board approval, and there are some that claim they have had their late fees waived. This issue was brought to light last September and Alderman Timothy Johnson said that he will investigate the issue of free water, but he still haven't concluded his investigation eight months after the matter was presented to the board. In the meantime, I guess there are those that will still use their pay one bill get two more free waiver cards since this is not a matter of importance to the Lumberton Board of Aldermen. For those of you that still have to adhere to the guidelines set forth by the City of Lumberton, please remember to pay you water bill before the 10th or get freindly with a clerk in the water bill department because friendship has it's privileges.