Homeowner Greg Pope has never paid a trash bill in the 16 years he’s lived in Akron.
It’s not that he has been avoiding paying. He just didn’t realize that he wasn’t.
His city utility bill, which covers water, sewer and trash service, would arrive each month. And he would pay each month.
But thanks to a clerical error, Akron forgot to include the trash fee on his bill — and the bills of 55 other property owners.
And now the city, which recently discovered its mistake as part of an audit, wants those people to settle up.
In Pope’s case, he received a bill for $1,626.50, along with the threat that the city may shut off his water if he didn’t pay by the due date for his next monthly utility bill.
“I didn’t do anything fraudulent,” he said this week while sitting on the couch inside his two-bedroom home on Brittain Road in the city’s working-class Goodyear Heights neighborhood. “It’s unbelievable.”
For Pope, it’s also an unexpected and steep financial worry that comes at the same time that he’s dealing with medical bills. The 61-year-old Vietnam veteran and railroad bridge worker went on disability last year after experiencing a stroke and having a pacemaker put in his chest.
Some good news arrived Thursday, though.
After the Beacon Journal contacted the city about Pope’s story, Mayor Dan Horrigan agreed to forgive at least half of the amount owed by Pope and the others.
“Obviously, it’s our error,” city spokeswoman Christine Curry said.
Horrigan is sending a letter next week to each property owner apologizing for the mistake.
He also is offering them a deal — pay half of the bill and take as long as four years to pay without any penalty.
If the property owners, who are scattered throughout the community, receive help through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or have a homestead exemption, the city will forgive 75 percent of the bill and also allow them to pay the amount over four years.
Nine of the customers qualify for the more generous offer, the city said.
By law, the city is able to go after overdue bills dating back eight years.
The largest overdue bill was $5,418 for a three-unit complex. The smallest bill was $107.50.
Twenty-six of the property owners hadn’t been paying for their trash service since 2009.
The usual monthly charge is $21.50, with a $2.50 credit for recycling. Those on HEAP or with a homestead exemption pay $11.80 or $9.80 if they recycle.
It’s unclear how many of the property owners knew they were getting away with not paying.
Pope and his wife, Alison, 57, said they were shocked when they received a letter out of the blue on May 20 notifying them that there was an issue with their trash bill.
The letter didn’t go into specifics.
Pope called and learned the extent of the problem. At that point, a city worker told him over the phone that he could owe as much as $1,500.
Four days later, the bill for $1,626 showed up, along with the threat to shut off his water.
“This is like extortion,” Pope said.
He was told that he could dispute the bill if he wanted. The city mailed him a four-page claim form.
Pope said he moved to Akron from Bolivar, Ohio. When he arrived, he got the utility bills put in his name and then never gave it another thought.
He faithfully paid the city bill that was sent to him.
He and his wife questioned why it took the city so long to catch the mistake.
Pope said he doesn’t have a problem paying for the trash service he received, but he’s upset he’s being punished financially for the city’s mistake.
“I have to eat it, I guess,” he said. “This is another form of the government shoving s*** down your throat that you have to eat.”
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.