Iron River late charges FOIA response

The FOIA about water bill late charges arrived.

"A review of the City's records and documents has not
produced any records or documents related to the
determination as to the late payment charges on
water bills and the components comprising the water
bill, including the readiness to serve charges."

[signed] Kathy L, Anderson, City Clerk


This article written by:
Bill Vajk
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Iron River's illegal late payment charges

Letter mailed today:

William J. Vajk
Iron River MI 49935
18 November 2008

Suzanne A. Johnson, treasurer
City of Iron River
106 W Genesee St.
Iron River MI 49935


Subject: Freedom of Information Act Request:

Dear Ms. Johnson:

1: Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act please provide any documentation and records relevant to how the determination was made that the late payment charge on water bills, approximating 314% per annum, is related to the actual costs occasioned by late customer payments.

2: Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act please provide any documentation and records relevant to how the determination was made that the late payment charge on water bills, approximating 314% per annum, is related to the actual costs occasioned by late customer payments specifically relevant to the city's "readiness to serve" charges.


Sincerely,



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Here's how it works. They add on 10% of the unpaid amount
every month. For a Readiness to Serve charge here's how the
numbers look for a year starting with an unpaid $25 and
adding 10% each month to the charge:

0 25
1 27.5
2 30.25
3 33.275
4 36.6025
5 40.26275
6 44.289025
7 48.7179275
8 53.58972025
9 58.948692275
10 64.8435615025
11 71.32791765275
12 78.460709418025

(Calculations using Visual FoxPro.)

At the end of a year, that original $ 25 has grown to $ 78.46.

78.46 divided by the original $25 yields 3.138428376721
or 314% per year compounded monthly!

Please consider that the "Readiness to Serve" charge has no
attributable expense to the city since they are providing
no services or commodity in exchange for that money. They're
charging something for nothing and then charging late fees
if that's not paid on time.

Wow! How can I get some of this action?

I have to wonder what sort of an answer "The Reporter" would
get from the city for "simply asking." Oops, I just hurt myself
laughing!

The above is the activism of Bill Vajk
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The Freedom of Information Act and the Iron County Reporter

The Iron County Reporter recently published an
editorial concerning the use of the Freedom Of
Information law by citizens seeking information
from the government of Iron County . This brought
several questions to mind.

Which Iron County employee complained?

We heard NO comments from the State of Michigan
or the Federal agencies that were FOIA'd. To my
knowledge the Iron County Reporter NEVER used
the FOIA. They are great at running Press Releases,
Bridge game scores, and Birth announcements. But
then again these require NO imagination or
research. So-called reporters report almost
verbatim about the meetings they attend, and
never ask any questions of the officeholders as
to the reasons for their actions or positions.

The Macomb Daily recently ran a story based on
a report by a committee appointed by the State
Legislators entitled "Are Lawmakers Law Breakers?"

Their report deals with the state legislators
violating the Headlee Amendment. This info could
not have been gathered without the use of the
FOIA Law.

I have heard and seen citizens being told when
they ask a question, by the county officials,
"If you knew what we know you'd understand!"

But they NEVER tell you what they know ! ! !

The above is the opinion and activism of
Ben Smith in Iron River, Michigan.
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