DAPHNE, Ala.—The City Council voted 6-1 to authorize the utilities board to enter into an agreement with Direct Management Inc., to collect bad garbage debt.

The collections agency will add a 30 percent fee to the amount collected. During a previous Finance Committee meeting, members agreed it would be better to get 70 percent of what was owed instead of nothing, Council member Bailey Yelding said.

Council member John Lake voted against the motion, stating he had “no faith in the compassion” of the Utilities Board to collect the bad debts properly. He recalled instances where the utilities of needy people were cut off unnecessarily.

“That to me was just horrendous for the community and for the individuals when a person has to go through that kind of a thing,” Lake said.

Lake asked the council to look into the matter, especially with a 30 percent penalty.

“It probably isn’t going to behoove us because they take their percent off the top and then we get what is left over. I don’t think we are going to get much out of it but I think this is going to give us a black eye in the future,” Lake said.

Council member Ron Scott said the utility board has been doing what it could to help people in need.

“People either honor their debts or they don’t. The utility has instigated a helping hand in which people are allowed to round off their bill. We have several thousands of dollars in that account and (for) anyone who has problems paying their bill, there is a process they can go through,” Scott said.