Water bill situation, possible Section 8 eviction

[Amanda Langdon]

I have a section 8 rental in Kansas City where the tenant was required by the lease to transfer the utilities to her name. She moved in in 2019 and apparently never transferred the utilities. I've always kept my landlord info up to date with KCMO water, I provided them my new address when I moved in October 2022 and I got a bill from them in June 2023 for $1900 in service charges ONLY, the transmitter inside the house is broken so they don't even have an accurate read on the actual water bill, but they promised the bill will be much higher once they get a read. The tenant does not appear to be cooperating when they come to the house to fix the meter, but she says they keep no-showing. KC Water had no good answer when I asked why I was just now being notified (they were apparently sending bills to a previous property manager despite having my current address) and they said they have tried to shut off the water multiple times but someone has been turning it back on illegally with a key from a hardware store. I will apparently be fined for this illegal circumventing as well. I'm planning on giving my tenant an ultimatum to transfer the utilities into her name retroactively & work out a payment plan with KC Water, and if she refuses, to start the eviction process. Does anyone have any experience with a situation like this, either with the water department or with a possible Section 8 eviction? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!