The City of Indianola paid a steep price for missing two payments to the Mississippi State Department of Health Water Quality.
An original bill at around $13,000 turned into $39,000 after two penalties were assessed for around $13,000 each for missed payments.
The original bill was due end of September, Goodwin said. It is a one-time annual fee, she said.
One of those payments arrived at the agency one day late, in November, said City Clerk Angela Goodwin.
“I understand rules are rules, but one day late, I thought that was rather ridiculous, and I told them that as well,” said Mayor Ken Featherstone.
Goodwin said the money would be paid out of the city’s water and sewer fund.
Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi said the missed payments likely happened because the city was in transition, having just hired Goodwin at the time the bill was originally due.
“We need to make a note every August to pay it,” Fratesi said.
Featherstone concurred.
“This can’t happen again,” he said.
