There’s a lesson to be learned
This past week a handful of unsuspecting renters in Goshen had their utilities turned off. They had no idea it was coming. These residents had been including their utilities payments in the rent to the local rental management firm, 1st Choice Property Management.
The owner of the company, Stuart Gingerich told The News that the recession has been increasingly difficult on his business with vacancy rates rising from around 5 percent all the way to about 15 percent. That increase, along with rising utility costs, Gingerich said, put a squeeze on his company’s cash flow and caused him to fall behind on utility payments that he was supposed to make for residents.
While many of us can sympathize with Gingerich’s dilemma, we feel it is extremely unfortunate that people who were doing what they were supposed to do were inconvenienced as they were. Discovering there is no water in the house is no way to start the day.
Susan Hochstetler is one of the residents who had her utilities shut off Tuesday. Again, she was shocked to see the Goshen city utilities truck in front of her house, especially since her payments to 1st Choice have included a portion for monthly utilities. She had no idea that the utility bill at her residence was in the arrears, in this case by about four months ($172).
After spending the entire day trying to figure out what was going on, Gingerich approached the Goshen City Council with a question. Why wasn’t she informed?
We feel that is a fair question for the council to consider. Why shouldn’t the residents of properties be notified should their landlord fall behind on utility payments? That way the resident can deal directly with the landlord to resolve the issue before a cut off is necessary. It seems logical that a delinquent notice can be left at the property as well as the landlord’s mailbox.
Goshen Mayor Allan Kauffman seemed agreeable to looking at the existing procedure and exploring the possibility of dual notifications.
We hope Gingerich and his company are able to recover. Again, most of us can understand what it’s like to try and persevere through these tough economic conditions. In the meantime, Maplewoods Property Management has taken over some of the 1st Choice properties and helped those renters who had their utilities shut off get them back up by the end of the day. It was not a cheap undertaking for the company. Good for them.
This was indeed an unfortunate situation. It’s also one we can learn from.
Opinion
There's a lesson to be learned
- Opinion
-
-
13 turnarounds we can admire
Before trustees of Goshen Community Schools met this past Monday night, a reception was held to honor 13 deserving students. They weren’t valedictorians or salutatorians. They weren’t class presidents or all-state student-athletes.
-
Recognition as bicycle-friendly city appreciated
Goshen is in the second year of its four-year designation by the League of American Bicyclists as a bike-friendly community. We congratulate city planners and bicycle advocates for this continuing recognition.
-
A message that all children need to hear
Gayla Konanz is giving girls the message they need to hear — fitness begins early in life and is the foundation that self-esteem and confidence are built on.
Konanz is a fitness advocate for children and works through the Girls on the Run program. The Goshen News told readers in the May 2 edition how Konanz is working with girls at Bristol Elementary School and is encouraging them to get fit and stay fit. -
We’re No. 12, and No. 1,268! Way to go GHS
This has become a popular space for singing the praises of our local school corporations in recent years. That’s because we believe in the quality work and effort our educators and students are putting forth on a daily basis in and out of the classroom.
-
Bill Bloss was a superb servant
Bill Bloss, a man who was always willing to step up and help his hometown of Goshen, died Wednesday. We know that everyone who had met Mr. Bloss and got to know him, will miss him plenty.
-
Voters and candidates deserve a 'thank you'
In light of Tuesday’s primary election, we’d like to take a moment and thank two groups of people.
-
A portrait of success this past Friday
Goshen’s First Fridays has garnered its fair share of headlines since March when the City Council began considering ordinance amendments geared toward youth attending the monthly festival.
-
Time not always on public’s side
One candidate was asked whether or not he was a socialist. Others discussed funding priorities, and even braved the tricky topic of where Goshen’s “south link road” should or shouldn’t go.
-
Good news in local education
Public schools — especially diverse urban districts — often get a bad rap by those who choose to look through the narrow telescope of standardized test scores. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Standardized tests are a wonderful tool for educators, but not the end-all, be-all of gauging achievement and effectiveness.
-
Gang 'talk' is what we need
Business owners see the evidence on their store fronts. Teachers see it sitting in their classrooms. Police officers see it in their daily reports. Graffiti. Clothing. Violence. While the term “gang” can conjure images of crusty inner-city slums, it is not a term that is lost any longer here in Elkhart County.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
13 turnarounds we can admire
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Egyptians Vote in Historic Presidential Election
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Joplin Marches to 'Remember' Tornado Victims
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
Sheriff: DNA Links Suspect to Missing CA Teen
US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely'
Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
