Agenda - Council - 05/23/2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~C# MEETING WITit PROPERTY OWNER AT 14720 GERMANIUM STREET RJ~GARDING $6,000 WATER BILL By: Diana Lurid, Finance Officer At the Finance Conzmittee of May 9, 2006, it was brought to the Committee members' attention a $6,000 water bill that was received by a resident residing at 14720 Germanium Street. A copy of.the current billing is attached. Ms. Audrey Smith, the resident who had received the bill, had come into City Hall on May 8, 2006, asking for some sort of reduction or lbrgiveness on this bill. The Finance Committee directed sta£f to set lip a payment plait with Ms. Smith, and that no portion of the bill would be waived. A briet' summary of the circumstances regarding the high water bill are as such: The property address listed above has an in'igatio~ system that was not winterized for the winter. Thc lines Eoze, expanded and broke, causing approximately 3,389,000 gallons of wa~er lo flow through the water meter. Ms. Smith had moved into this home in July, 2005. Commxtts estimated her water billing for first quarter of 2006 with a reading of 0 as they estimate water based on past usage. Ms. Smith was a new customer with no t~istory. There was an actual reading on October 17, 2005, that showed a usage of 96,000 gzdlo~ts. John Nelson, Utility Superintendent, visited the home and said that it was apparent that there had been a tremendous :mount of water in the backyard as the rocks w~,re vbfibly yellow from the iron in the water and the grass was about a ibot higher tb, ar~ auywhem else in the yard. Ms. Smith contacted staffthat site would like to have a meeting with the Finance Committee with an army lawyer present (her husband is currently stationed in Iraq) to. discuss her current water bill. Committee Action: Discussion oF$6,000 waiter bill with property owner/at~torney and course of action. FC: 5/23/06 -263-