Resolution - #06-09-294 - 09/26/2006

Home

Councilmember Olson introduced the following resolution and moved for its adoption: RESOLUTION #06-09-294 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING FINDINGS OF FACT RELATING TO FINAL CONCLUSION OF $6,000 WATER BILL AT 14720 GERMANIUM STREET. WHEREAS, Ms. Audrey Smith, 14720 Germanium Street received a $6,000 water bill from Connexus Energy in April 2006 due to an irrigation system that had not be winterized and burst. WHEREAS, at the Finance Committee of September 11, 2006, the following recommendation was made: Ms. Smith $2,000 Responsibility Connexus Energy $4,000 Responsibility City of Ramsey $ 0 Responsibility NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RAMSEY, ANOKA COUNTY, STATE OF MINNESOTA that the findings of fact relating to this issue are as follows: 1. That Connexus Energy notified staff that they had sent a $6,000 water bill and letter to Ms. Smith at 14720 Germanium Street for first quarter 2006 utility billing, informing her of high water usage and a potential water leak. 2. That the City utility department verified that reading was correct. 3. That Ms. Smith and her father came into the City inquiring why her bill was so large and why this matter wasn't caught earlier. Wondered why no actual reading had been obtained in January 2006 which would have caught the problem three months prior. 4. That the Finance Committee was informed of the $6,000 water bill issue during the Finance Committee of May 9, 2006, and the consensus of the Finance Committee was to recommend to City Council that staff be directed to work with the resident to set up a reasonable payment schedule and report back to the Finance Committee. 5. That Ms. Smith attended the May 23,2006 Finance Committee meeting with an army representative, where it was stated that Connexus does not include information on the billing about winter water maintenance such as how to winterize an irrigation system. 6. That Ms. Smith's January billing from Connexus Energy contained the exact same water billing as three months prior, possible that the break took place before the December reading date, and had that meter reading been taken, water usage would have shown up earlier, and the whole situation avoided. 7. That Ms. Smith admitted that she had heard what sounded like a toilet continuing flushing coming from her meter.