Malden computer glitch creates $27M utility bill

By STEVE HANKINS

Delta Dunklin Democrat

Most residents experience increased energy bills this time of year.

Cold weather plays a huge role in additional utilities usage, electric and natural gas, especially.

A Campbell man’s recent bill was a bit more of a shock.

The Malden Board of Public Works bill dated Jan. 23 was $27,845,386.02

David Cooper, 65, of 36840 Highway WW said his previous balance was $373.20.

Cooper said the bill in question was for a property of his at 516 S. Decatur St., a rental property that was allegedly occupied and trashed by a tenant after utilities were discontinued, but before it was vacated, he said.

The utility bill issue was a software error, a computer glitch, said Malden administrator and Board of Public Works Supervisor Ivone Smith.

The city invested in new computers and new software programs. An occasional glitch occurs between the new software programs and BPW digital electric meters, which the city investigates as they present themselves, Smith said.

Malden Mayor Denton Kooyman said during a Monday meeting the city would investigate the utility bill concerns and that he would issue a statement about the bill for Cooper to evaluate. Cooper was told the matter would be addressed first thing Tuesday, Feb. 25.

Cooper said he thought the error was about water usage until he read the entire document.

“I can understand somebody making a key mistake if it was five or 10 zeros,” Cooper told councilors. “But these numbers look like they were pulled from thin air.”

Cooper claimed his rental property “wouldn’t have been torn apart,” if the city had not shut down the rental property’s utilities.

This was one of two issues Cooper had to address with the council, also asking court charges related to other property issues be dismissed.

Court documents indicate Cooper was cited May 8, 2024, four times for non-abatement of 514 S. Decatur, each citation dated identically.

Two citations indicated they were written at 510 S. Madison St., and two indicated 306 W. Park St., neither mentioning 516 S. Decatur, nor Cooper’s physical home address at Campbell.

His case was continued by the court at least twice before Malden Municipal Court Judge John Welch issued a warrant for Cooper’s arrest last October, for failure to appear regarding the nuisance charges, according to court filings.

Cooper was detained during a traffic stop in November 2024 and told about his four warrants, each of them accompanied by a $100 bond, just before he was taken to jail.

His bonds were refunded in December, and he petitioned the court for a change of judge, court records indicated.

“We can’t do anything about the charges,” Kooyman said. “That’s for the court to decide.

“You already know the process,” he continued. “But we’ll investigate this utility bill. We’ll get a proper look at it, and if you’re owed money, we’ll be happy to offer you a refund.”