Mayor's Office

City Receives Payment for One of Two Apartment Complexes Recently Issued Shut Off Notices

FLINT, Mich. — City of Flint officials are pleased to report the owner of Ballenger Manor Apartments has submitted an online payment of $3,000 for the property’s past due utility account. The payment was made following numerous mailings and attempts to get the owner to meet the terms of the Flint Collection Program whereby the property owner pays the balance of the current months bill plus 10 percent of the past due balance.  The payment received does meet the requirements of the collection program and the property has been removed from the shut off list. The owner of Ballenger Manor still has a remaining balance of $21,287.44 on the accounts for the property.

Unfortunately, the owner of Lakeside Apartments has not made payment on the past due utility account for the property which now has a balance of $51,414.05. Representatives from several community organizations including the Genesee County United Way, Red Cross, Genesee Health System, and Shelter of Flint have all stepped in to help. They have met with tenants currently living at the property and are working to secure any assistance tenants may need in case they have to relocate.  After learning Wednesday the complex has a steam heating system which uses water to operate, city officials have no immediate plans to turn off the water at Lakeside. Officials are now looking into legal actions that can be taken against the property owner.

“We appreciate the owner of Ballenger Manor for stepping up and paying the city for the services it’s provided,” said David Sabuda Flint’s Interim Chief Financial Officer. “We still can’t understand why the landlord hadn’t made a payment for utility services since he acquired the apartment complex in 2015, and he has been collecting rent all this time – that is wrong. However, we’re glad he finally decided to do the right thing.”

Residents can always call the Customer Service Center at (810) 766-7015 to find out the status of a property’s utility account.