The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

January 1, 2010

UPDATE: Sanitary authority files 80 liens against sewer scofflaws

More to come, official says

By Courtney L. Anderson

SHARON — Sharon Sanitary Authority on Thursday filed 80 municipal liens in an attempt to collect more than $150,000 in unpaid sewer fees.

“We’re not done,” authority manager Guy Cunningham said of the legal tactic. “We’re knocking them out. It’s not the end by a longshot.”

In October, Cunningham said about $1 million in outstanding sewer bills were owed to the city and authority, which took over operations of the wastewater treatment plant in 2008.

Cunningham said they’re basically starting with property owners who owe the most money and working their way down.

The next step, if water service cannot be shut off because the water bill is in the tenant’s name, is to file lawsuits, Cunningham said.

Not all the properties are rentals, Cunningham said, adding that it’s hard for the authority to determine which are and which aren’t but they’ve tried.

Filing the liens on the last day of the year was kind of a coincidence, Cunningham said.

He noted that there’s only so much “people power” at the authority and the first thing they have to do is take care of everyday operations.

Two college students have been interning with the department over their winter break and they helped to push the process forward, Cunningham said.

The liens were filed by authority Solicitor William J. Madden. A message left at his Sharon office Thursday was not immediately returned.

The authority is also continuing to shut off the water service to those behind on their bills.

Cunningham said next week more than 50 homes will likely be posted with notices.

Of the 80 liens filed Thursday, only three of the property owners owe less than $1,000.

Those liens bring the total amount of debt the authority or city has sought in court since 2005 to more than $350,000. The authority has filed more than 100 liens in recent months.

Until September, the city or authority had filed only 17 liens since 1994, when 70 claims were filed. Most of those have been paid.

The authority can only pursue debt for six years after it is due unless a municipal lien is filed. Those liens are good for 20 years and attach to the property.

Filing lawsuits or liens against debtors makes their names public record, which is how The Herald discovered the names of some people whose sewer accounts are delinquent.

The Herald has been unable to get a complete list of those who owe the authority for unpaid bills.

Over the summer, the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records ruled the list of scofflaws is a public record under the state’s Right-to-Know law, but the authority appealed the decision to a local judge.

The Herald is waiting for a ruling from Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher J. St. John on whether the authority must release information about delinquent accounts to the public.

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