There was all this talk that Stephanie Mullings was the reason the water department was in such disarray but since we're continuing to have problems, it seems that she was not the problem. Apparently, the problem is much deeper and it's long overdue for those elected to serve to find out what's the problem and get it corrected. Time and time again, we've been told its system errors and glitches in BBI. It seems like the City of Lumberton cannot get it right when it comes to the water department. There's a need for some serious changes. Every month, we hear about the rude customers but what about the rude treatment from the other side of the counter. I was with a customer once when one of the clerks snapped and the customer snapped back. Now, I'm sure when it was reported to the board, it was all the customer's fault, but as a person that works in the resolution department, I deal with angry individuals everyday and the first rule is to try to get to the source of the problem and help the customer. Of course people are angry. I would be angry as well if my water was cut off and the disconnection date is not a complete 30 day cycle.
There's all this talk about Mississippi Power will not tolerate this or that but if you're going to compare yourself to Mississippi Power, then try to have the same level of professionalism/courtesy as Mississippi Power. Just this month, I discovered that Mississippi Power will allow a bill to carry over the next month. It seems that the clerks in the City of Lumberton want all bills paid before the end of a 30 day cycle. After talking with Mississippi Power, I was told that a bill can have a delinquent bill from the previous month. They said by the customer is required to pay the full past due balance by a specific date and they can continue to carry a delinquent balance over from month to month. From what has been said at the board meetings, the clerks do not want this option for the residents of Lumberton. Also, another added measure that is taken by Mississippi Power is the fact that they will post a cut off notice on the door of the customer before disconnecting the services. The City of Lumberton is charging $35 for reconnection fee, I think they should at least give the customer a disconnect notice before disconnecting the services. Last month, the City of Lumberton collected over $500 in reconnection fees. I think that is more than enough to cover the cost of delivering a disconnection notice.
Another move by the new clerks is to have water bills in the names of deceased customers transferred into the living relatives’ names. Seriously. Don't we have bigger fish to fry? If the bills are being paid, then what's the problem? It's not a problem for BellSouth and AT & T so why is a problem for the City of Lumberton. This is what happens when you have people that are not connected to the city making the decisions. The City of Lumberton continues the practice of hiring a clerk and then allowing the clerk to select the person she wants to work with. More than likely, the clerk is going to pick someone they can influence rather than picking a person that is best suited for the job. Now, keep in mind, I admire the fact that we finally have a deputy clerk that actually attend the meetings but I think there's a need for someone in the office to be above board and stop taking everything personally and try to do what's best for the City of Lumberton. Too much time is spent socializing and not enough time is spent looking for solutions. I know customer's can be very difficult to deal with but not all customers’ can be put in the same boat.
During the last administration, they refused to get answers but we cannot sit back and let this turn into an attack on the citizens because clerks don't want to interact with individuals they do not know. There are many things that could be said about Stephanie and I probably have said them, but she knew there was a problem but she didn't take the steps to get them addressed. She attacked certain customers but I find it hard to believe that there's such an extraordinary amount of rude customers coming to that office day in and day out; especially with the gun toting customer there most of the time. From my vantage point, it seem like the clerks are upset that their personal conversations are getting interrupted and they are being very short with the customer's that actually have concerns that need to be addressed. Let's be clear....I don't have a problem with the current clerks; they have been more than cordial towards me but I have heard the stories. As I have always said...there's three sides to a story. Hopefully, we can find the truth and answers to all the reoccurring issues so our city can move forward. Citizens are drowning month after month because of water billing issues and it's either time to throw them a life preserver or get a life guard on duty. Something is not adding up and I will continue to look into this matter to see what's going on but I think the citizens of Lumberton are getting played..........AGAIN!
There was all this talk that Stephanie Mullings was the reason the water department was in such disarray but since we're continuing to have problems, it seems that she was not the problem. Apparently, the problem is much deeper and it's long overdue for those elected to serve to find out what's the problem and get it corrected. Time and time again, we've been told its system errors and glitches in BBI. It seems like the City of Lumberton cannot get it right when it comes to the water department. There's a need for some serious changes. Every month, we hear about the rude customers but what about the rude treatment from the other side of the counter. I was with a customer once when one of the clerks snapped and the customer snapped back. Now, I'm sure when it was reported to the board, it was all the customer's fault, but as a person that works in the resolution department, I deal with angry individuals everyday and the first rule is to try to get to the source of the problem and help the customer. Of course people are angry. I would be angry as well if my water was cut off and the disconnection date is not a complete 30 day cycle.
There's all this talk about Mississippi Power will not tolerate this or that but if you're going to compare yourself to Mississippi Power, then try to have the same level of professionalism/courtesy as Mississippi Power. Just this month, I discovered that Mississippi Power will allow a bill to carry over the next month. It seems that the clerks in the City of Lumberton want all bills paid before the end of a 30 day cycle. After talking with Mississippi Power, I was told that a bill can have a delinquent bill from the previous month. They said by the customer is required to pay the full past due balance by a specific date and they can continue to carry a delinquent balance over from month to month. From what has been said at the board meetings, the clerks do not want this option for the residents of Lumberton. Also, another added measure that is taken by Mississippi Power is the fact that they will post a cut off notice on the door of the customer before disconnecting the services. The City of Lumberton is charging $35 for reconnection fee, I think they should at least give the customer a disconnect notice before disconnecting the services. Last month, the City of Lumberton collected over $500 in reconnection fees. I think that is more than enough to cover the cost of delivering a disconnection notice.
Another move by the new clerks is to have water bills in the names of deceased customers transferred into the living relatives’ names. Seriously. Don't we have bigger fish to fry? If the bills are being paid, then what's the problem? It's not a problem for BellSouth and AT & T so why is a problem for the City of Lumberton. This is what happens when you have people that are not connected to the city making the decisions. The City of Lumberton continues the practice of hiring a clerk and then allowing the clerk to select the person she wants to work with. More than likely, the clerk is going to pick someone they can influence rather than picking a person that is best suited for the job. Now, keep in mind, I admire the fact that we finally have a deputy clerk that actually attend the meetings but I think there's a need for someone in the office to be above board and stop taking everything personally and try to do what's best for the City of Lumberton. Too much time is spent socializing and not enough time is spent looking for solutions. I know customer's can be very difficult to deal with but not all customers’ can be put in the same boat.
During the last administration, they refused to get answers but we cannot sit back and let this turn into an attack on the citizens because clerks don't want to interact with individuals they do not know. There are many things that could be said about Stephanie and I probably have said them, but she knew there was a problem but she didn't take the steps to get them addressed. She attacked certain customers but I find it hard to believe that there's such an extraordinary amount of rude customers coming to that office day in and day out; especially with the gun toting customer there most of the time. From my vantage point, it seem like the clerks are upset that their personal conversations are getting interrupted and they are being very short with the customer's that actually have concerns that need to be addressed. Let's be clear....I don't have a problem with the current clerks; they have been more than cordial towards me but I have heard the stories. As I have always said...there's three sides to a story. Hopefully, we can find the truth and answers to all the reoccurring issues so our city can move forward. Citizens are drowning month after month because of water billing issues and it's either time to throw them a life preserver or get a life guard on duty. Something is not adding up and I will continue to look into this matter to see what's going on but I think the citizens of Lumberton are getting played..........AGAIN!
I thank you for your insight and honesty. People are always saying they care about Lunberton but when I attend a board meeting I know that's not true. Look at those up there on the podium. We have two of the Golden Girls, the pill popping jokester, the wanna be grand dragon, the house no**er, the wanna be intellectual, the gambler and the power hungry. Everyone on the board is over 50 and they're nor concerned about anyone other than themselves. Stephanie was incompetent but she didn't try to turn against all the citizens of Lumberton.. What hire Aunt Bee and send her to all that training when we know she's going to have to retire again. Then to top it off they hire another AARP member as her assistant. Just because Stephanie messed up does not mean we can't have young people serve the city. I was glad when you lost the election because I was hoping you would get hired in the office but I guess the old hounds can't set aside personal issues for professional advancement. I guess they're so stuck in their ways that they haven't realized that you can't blog if you worked for the city. I also think that woman Rachael would be a good fit for the office. I guess at some point they'll start making better decisions. Keep us informed and maybe someone will become inspired enough to change the direction of our city before it's too late.
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