Soap Lake suspends late fees, shut-offs

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council voted on Wednesday to suspend imposing penalties or fees on late payments for water or sewer bills for the next six months.

During a meeting via conference call, the council also agreed to a freeze on water and sewer shut-offs “to ensure proper sanitation continues,” according to Soap Lake Mayor Alex Kovach.

The move is intended to temporarily help Soap Lake residents who may have lost jobs and income as a result of closures imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kovach said anyone who receives a late notice and is unable to pay should contact city staff, which will work out a payment plant to ensure that people who cannot pay “don’t get in over their heads by not paying for too long.”

However, Kovach also said the city itself has “limited means to keep this going” for long, noting that without upkeep funded by regular bill payments, the city’s utilities can degrade quickly.

— Charles H. Featherstone