Oconee resident upset about added fees, dead relative on utility bill

A homeowner in Oconee claims the city is putting her water bill in her deceased relative's name and adding a groundskeeping fee, despite inconsistent maintenance of city property grass.

OCONEE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A homeowner in Oconee claims the city is putting her water bill in her deceased relative’s name and adding a groundskeeping fee, despite inconsistent maintenance of city property grass.

Amanda Jackson says grieving her grandmother’s death has been difficult because the water bill still arrives in her grandmother’s name seven years after her death.

“Dead folks don’t pay bills,” Jackson said.

In 2017, Jackson says she went to Oconee City Hall with her grandmother’s death certificate to change the water bill to her name. However, she says she was instructed to leave it as it was and not to worry about it.

Jackson says she has been paying the water bill and has provided receipts as proof, yet she continues to receive shut-off notices.

“They act like I’m not paying my water bill, which isn’t true, and they threaten to turn off my water,” Jackson said.

Since October, Jackson says the city has added a groundskeeping fee to the utility bill, which already includes water and garbage fees. Jackson says she hasn’t paid the new fee and is upset about being charged to maintain city property grass, which she believes should be covered by property and sales taxes.

“They claim they don’t have enough funds to cut the grass, which hasn’t been done in a year,” she said. “Now, we’re responsible for cutting both our grass and the city’s grass, and that’s not right.”

Jackson says she lives across from a park and has been maintaining its grass herself.

“I’ve cut the park grass two or three times because I have to get my grass cut too,” she said. “That’s a lot of money, and I have to pay my grass man to cut over there.”

41NBC went to City Hall, but no one was there. Repeated calls resulted in a dial tone instead of voicemail, and we have not received a response.

Jackson and some neighbors are calling for the issues to be resolved.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.