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Metro Atlanta

Residents recruited to help fix high DeKalb water bills

Jennifer Tate, who says trying to get her water bill fixed has become a part-time job, speaks out in frustration during a town hall meeting at the Maloof Auditorium on Nov. 10, 2016, in Decatur. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Jennifer Tate, who says trying to get her water bill fixed has become a part-time job, speaks out in frustration during a town hall meeting at the Maloof Auditorium on Nov. 10, 2016, in Decatur. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
By Mark Niesse
March 5, 2017

Residents will soon have a stronger voice about how to correct DeKalb County's widespread problems with inaccurate water bills.

The DeKalb Board of Commissioners approved creating the Watershed Customer Service and Billing Advisory Group last week.

The group, made up of nine residents, will gather information about water billing issues, customer service and meter replacement work.

DeKalb Commissioner Nancy Jester said the advisory group will provide an official conduit for citizens to communicate with government employees about how to address billing problems.

"I'm looking forward to having citizens involved in fixing the water billing crisis," Jester said in a YouTube video.

Members of the advisory group will be appointed by DeKalb CEO Mike Thurmond, each of the county’s seven commissioners and the DeKalb Municipal Association.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

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