Residents press Valdosta council over water billing errors, flooding and homelessness concerns

Multiple residents pressed the Valdosta City Council during Citizens to Be Heard about water‑billing errors and other infrastructure concerns.

Residents including Tina McCombs and Kelly Saxon described receiving multiple water bills in rapid succession after the city implemented a new billing system, saying retirees and fixed‑income households were particularly harmed. One resident said she received three bills in a single month and that a neighborhood has been left unaware of the system changes. Kelly Saxon called for improved communication and asked whether residents who were grandfathered would be notified.

Separately, a commercial property owner reported a city water main break and flooding at a retail property on Goentoe/Goentow Road and said the city would not shut off the water for commercial property, leaving the owner to pay for emergency pumping and repairs. The speaker estimated private costs of $8,000–$10,000 and asked for city assistance or resolution.

Councilmembers acknowledged the billing issues, with one councilmember noting they had also received duplicate bills and promising a new billing software company would be brought forward in the next two to three months. The city manager and staff offered to have staff meet with affected residents after the meeting for individual follow‑up.

Other comments during the same public comment period asked the council to consider permanent public restroom access at Unity Park for people experiencing homelessness and urged the city to coordinate on homelessness and workforce housing strategies.

The transcript records no formal action to reimburse residents or to accelerate customer credits at the meeting; the recorded next steps were staff follow‑up meetings with complainants and an overall staff effort to present new billing software options to council within a few months.