Latest news with #DavidYonce
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Public hearing held over potential Spire rate increase
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Public Service Commission hosted a public forum on Wednesday evening, discussing the rate increase . The 11-month process includes five public forums all over the state, after Spire asked the commission to raise their rates by 15%, or around $14 per household per month. In total, the company would receive nearly $290 million from customers in Missouri. Jackson Co. Legislator Abarca charged in Missouri, Kansas 'We recognize that seems like a big number,' said David Yonce, the managing director of regulatory affairs for Spire Missouri. 'When these rates do become effective, the last increase that we had was three years ago.' The energy company filed the increase on November 25, 2024. Ten days earlier, Spire enacted a rate decrease, thanks to a change in the price of natural gas. For Western Missouri the rate decrease amounted to roughly $18.70 per month. Eighty percent of the proposed increase will be used to recoup investment made improving Spire's infrastructure, like pipelines and meters. The Spire team at the meeting said they were replacing pipes made of bare steel and cast iron. 'This is important to be able to reduce the possibility of leaks in the future,' Yonce said. 'We have to be able to provide our customers with service even on those peak conditions when it's really cold, and our customers depend on us to heat their homes.' Outside the meeting, opponents of the rate increase rallied in front of the community center. They say any price increase is unfair. 'This is brazen corporate price gouging,' said Cashmere Ketterman with Sunrise Movement KC. 'In my opinion, frankly, they don't need an additional $200 million for a quote unquote, system improvements.' Ketterman said the focus should be on renewable energy and supporting the working class. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV 'Even like a $14, $15 or $20 rate increase, that could be devastating for most Missouri families,' he said. 'If I had a recommendation, the recommendation to them [Spire] would to be get out of our communities and to city council, fund clean energy! We deserve affordable utility prices. That's the very least they can do for us if they're not going to provide clean and renewable energy.' The Missouri Public Service Commission will make a decision on the rate increase in October 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma property owner says ex-friends turned squatters owe him $180,000 in rent and refuse to leave
David Yonce of Mounds, Oklahoma, has a word of warning for others considering renting property or a home to friends: Make sure to have a contract. "Even if your best friend wants to lease your house, dot all your i's and cross all your t's,' he told ABC News Channel 8 in Tulsa. 'Do a very thorough job of the lease because you just don't know when it's a con.' Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Home prices in America could fly through the roof in 2025 — here's the big reason why and how to take full advantage (with as little as $10) Yonce learned the hard way. He and his wife were good friends with another couple. Three years ago, Yonce started a business with his friend and — as part of the arrangement — offered to let the couple rent a home on his property for $5,000 a month. For a few months, the couple paid, but then stopped. Three years on, they refuse to leave and Yonce calculates they owe more than $180,000 in back rent. "It hurts, honestly, it's hurtful," Yonce said. 'We considered these people our best friends, my wife and I's best friends.' So why can't Yonce have law enforcement remove the couple from his property? The problem is that the rental agreement he made with his ex-business partner was part of their business deal. There was no lease, which means Yonce and his wife can't evict the couple. Now they're forced to sue their ex-friends turned squatters. A squatter is generally defined as a person who occupies a property without the owner's consent. They may live in abandoned homes, vacant land or even buildings. While some high-profile squatter cases have grabbed headlines recently, legal experts say squatter cases are relatively rare. New York City tenants rights lawyer Samuel Himmelstein told Newsweek that he's seen an increase in 'licensee holdovers' — people who originally had permission to live in a property but refuse to leave after that agreement ends. This is the situation Yonce is in. Such cases can be complicated because, unlike traditional squatters, these individuals were once invited onto the property, making eviction harder. If you're renting a property, protect yourself with these steps: Never rely on verbal or business agreements to rent a property. A rental agreement should clearly outline the rent terms, lease length and payment due. If the rental is part of a business agreement, make sure the lease covers what happens if the business dissolves. Ask for a rental application (consider doing a background check) from all prospective tenants, including friends, and require a deposit as part of the lease. This helps formalize the arrangement and gives you recourse to recover at least some funds if tenants stop paying. The lease should outline what happens if rent isn't paid, laying out late fees, grace period and the formal eviction process. Removing non-paying tenants can be a lengthy, expensive battle — especially if local laws favor tenant rights. A well-documented process ensures you can take legal action quickly if needed. Tenant and squatter laws vary, and in some states, evicting a non-paying tenant can take months. Make sure you understand the steps required for eviction in your state. For example, in Oklahoma, landlords must post a notice and send a certified letter, then go to court. Yonce's experience is a cautionary tale about mixing business, friendship, and real estate. No matter how close a landlord and tenant are, it's good to keep lease agreements professional to protect your legal rights. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
