Lynch Mayor Ronnie Hampton suggested his city work with Benham and Cumberland as part of a new landlord ordinance discussed at a meeting Tuesday.

The first reading of the 2009-2010 budget was read along with the first reading of the new landlord ordinance.

“We need to work together from city to city when someone runs up a big water bill in Lynch and then moves to Cumberland or Benham,” said Hampton. “We need to notify them of the unpaid bill and in turn they would do the same for us.”

Hampton said the city of Lynch would notify landlords of any late bills incurred by their renters as a courtesy to the landlords.

“We now have computer software that allows us to go in and put a check on customers that are late,” said Darlene Monhollen, the Lynch city clerk. “The late bill then goes out to the customer and the landlord.”

The landlord ordinance includes any debt incurred by any resident who rents, leases or contracts a property in the city of Lynch and then leaves without paying for those services rendered by the city, the owner or the person leasing that property would be responsible for that debt. There would be late and re-installment fees added to the unpaid debt. The ordinance further states services at that residence would not be resumed until the debt, along with late and re-installment fees were paid.

Hampton suggested to the council that another ordinance be approved covering individuals moving into the city of Lynch with large unpaid water bills.

The council voted to renew its present loan with Commercial Bank in the amount of $19,000, then agreed to add $25,000 to loan.

“This extra $25,000 will allow the city of Lynch to pay their bills,” said council member Anne Carr. “This is something that we need to do.”