Dunbar City Council took the final step in its efforts to place liens on properties with delinquent municipal fees during its Monday night meeting.
Council approved changes to two ordinances on second reading paving the way for the Dunbar City Clerk's office to begin to process of notifying property owners of non-payments and pending liens.
"I sympathize with the people who pay their bills and their next door neighbor doesn't pay their bills, yet they get the same service, and it is not fair," Dunbar Mayor Terry Greenlee said on the on-going issue.
Upon receiving the delinquent municipal fee notices, citizens will have 90 days to pay their balance or set up a payment plan with the city before a lien is placed on their property.
"It is important to pay your municipal bills - just like any other bill. You don't pay your water [bill], the water company shuts your water off; you don't pay your power [bill], the power company shuts your power off," Greenlee said. "But we can't stop picking up your trash because of your neighbors on either side and we can't start a dump there - we have nothing else to shut off so this is our way we are going to do it."
Dunbar's struggle with outstanding municipal fees is not any worse than any other town, Greenlee said.
The city has about $300,000 in delinquent municipal fees. Greenlee hopes to recover about 75 percent, or $225,000, of that with the new approach.
"It got this way in several years and I think it is going to take several years to get all," Greenlee said. "It is not an overnight fix."
Also on Monday, council heard an update from Dunbar police on its search for a new K-9 officer following a $6,000 donation from several citizens to go toward a new dog.
Council wants to ensure it accounts for additional costs beyond the purchase of dog, such as training for the dog and officer, potential overtime pay for the officer and a new K-9 police vehicle.
Police Chief Jesse Bailes and his team have seven inquiries out about potential dogs. Council will take action after reviewing those responses.
In other business, council approved April 18 meeting minutes