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<br />COUNCIL BUSINESS <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec closed the regular portion of the City Council meeting at 7 :20 p.m. in order to <br />conduct a public hearing. <br /> <br />Case #1: <br /> <br />Public Hearing and Levy of Assessments for Past-Due Charges on Municipal <br />Utility Bills and Current Services Rendered <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec called the public hearing to order at 7 :20 p.m. <br /> <br />Citizen Input <br /> <br />Patrick Stocker, 14673 Iodine Court NW, stated that he had received a letter from the City <br />regarding a delinquent water bill account for Michelle Lacrosse, who was the horne's previous <br />owner. Mr. Stocker stated that he had purchased the home in November 2006. He stated that the <br />. letter indicated that the bill stays with the property and not the individual named on the account. <br />He read aloud from the City letter and also notedhis purchasing documents that warranted that <br />his property was free of all ~ncumbrances. He stated that the title documents also stated that the <br />seller's title company agreed to pay all utilities associated with the property. He stated that <br />Burnett Title does not guarantee the accuracy of till's information, but claimed that they had <br />conducted a search on the property and came up with no information. He stated that he has <br />spoken with Connexus Energy and they stated that this account had been delinquent since June <br />2006, so he feels this information should have been known and available at the time of closing. <br />He stated that he can provide copies of all the documents he referred to in his comments. He <br />stated that he would like to know if there is anything in the . City procedures that states a title <br />company is legally required to do a search of outstanding bills. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich stated that there is nothing in the City's policy to control whether or not <br />a title company completes a search for outstanding utility bills. <br /> <br />Finance Officer Lund stated that the closing company is responsible for doing a search on utility <br />bills. She stated that everything Mr. Stocker claimed tonight is correct, in that the City's policy <br />is that past due bills are the responsibility of the homeowner currently in residence and stays with <br />the PIN# of the property. She stated thatConnexus handles billing for the City water utility; She <br />stated that the City is not a collection agency with the capability of hunting dO-VVTI previous <br />owners. She stated that if there is any documentation from the closing company that shows they <br />contacted Connexus, then Connexus could be held liable for the bill. <br /> <br />Mr. Stocker stated that there is nothing on file with Connexus that they were contacted regarding <br />this issue. . <br /> <br />Finance Officer Lund stated that the title company does not have to contact utility companies, <br />just the City during their assessment searches. <br /> <br />City Council / September 25, 2007 <br />Page 5 of 27 <br /> <br />P15 <br />