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<br /> <br /> STAFF REPORT <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />TO: Mayor Keis and Members of City Council <br /> <br />FROM: Colleen Schoenecker, Utility Billing Clerk <br /> <br />REVIEWED: Sam Magureanu, Finance Director <br /> <br />DATE: December 14, 2022 <br /> <br />RE: Ramsey County Gervais Beach Utility Bill Refund <br /> <br /> <br />NOTE: For transparency reasons and to provide City Council and Mayor additional information, City staff <br />decided to have this payment request presented and approved separately from all other disbursements <br />since this is the largest adjustment to a utility account the city has ever done. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />A new meter was installed at Gervais Beach back in March of 2012. At that time, Little Canada was <br />using a software system called Badger Read Center to read the meters. In 2020 Little Canada upgraded <br />our meter reading software to Beacon Advanced Metering Analytics. After the transition of this <br />software, we suspected and have since confirmed that the old software was reading the meter to the <br />wrong digit at Gervais Beach resulting in overbilling to Ramsey County Parks. <br /> <br />In addition to onsite meter checks at Gervais Beach, Little Canada staff obtained data and researched the <br />water usage at neighboring Ramsey County Beaches including those at Lake McCarrons, Lake Johanna, <br />Island Lake, and Snail Lake. These beaches have similar water usage to Gervais Beach and the <br />comparable data helped us gain a better understanding of typical water usage at Ramsey County Beach <br />properties. <br /> <br />Staff halted billing on this account after 1st quarter 2021 as we began reviewing and researching this <br />account. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />The amount that has been overbilled for water and sewer charges from 2012 to 2020 is $50,482.55. <br />Staff recommends the Council approve a refund check to Ramsey County for overbilled utility charges <br />at Gervais Beach in the amount of $50,482.55. <br /> <br /> <br />Attachments: <br />1. Overcharged Water spreadsheet <br />2. Overbilled Sewer spreadsheet <br />3. Final Invoice