Property owners asked to follow town law

The issue of charging investment fees to owners of trailer parks and apartment buildings for the individual rentals within Moorcroft’s town limits has again risen, to the consternation of the town council.

Moorcroft Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Schneider asked for the discussion to clarify her options when the honor system (the existing manner wherein the owner asks tenants to create an account with the town) fails.

“The honor system works maybe 50% of the time; whether it’s intentionally forgotten or not, we’re not getting everything we should be collecting,” she said.

While the ordinance is clear that the property owner is responsible for these fees regardless of occupation, the governing body has, in the past, been reluctant to charge for empty units. However, their efforts to maintain this variance, like the aforementioned “honor system” is not entirely efficient.

Council discussed many avenues that would pay the town what is actually owed on these properties at a workshop earlier in the month.

The decision was made to allow owners to have tenants pay on individual accounts, but the owner is obligated to pay the investment fees on each unoccupied unit or lot as per ordinance.

Letters informing these property owners will be sent out this week.