03/22/2000 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MARCH 22, 2000 Staff advised the residents are very happy with the park area behind the well house. Council agreed the two (2) lots can be combined into one and sold. UTILITY BILLS, RICK DEGARDNER Staff distributed a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Nelson regarding a recent utility bill. Staff also distributed a handout that included background information relating to water meter readers that have been changed. Staff reviewed the information in detail. Staff advised the undercharging is limited to the 63 homes that had a generator style remote reading device that was available to the city in the early 80's. The replacement of the generator style remote reading device has resulted in undercharging residents since these old devices readings slow down over time. This creates a discrepancy with the actual water meter that is located inside the house. Most of those residents have been billed for the error. Staff noted a flyer was sent out when the meters were changed. The flyer that indicated the new meter was a radio read. That informati • ncorrect. Staff advised they broke down the undercharge for Mr. and them for 60% of the undercharge. An offer has been ma interest. Council Member Carlson advised she spoke residents that the mistake applied to. S sent out. The flyer indicated that res Council did not discuss chargi limit be set on back usage Council Member mistake. aff then billed ents with no els n. She stated there are few ncern regarding the flyer that was be charged back for any mistakes. foe City's mistake. She suggested a $100 she oes not feel it is right to charge the residents for the Council Member 0' yF, nnell pointed out the under billing took place in prior budget years. The mistake will have no impact on this year's budget. He suggested not billing residents anything for the back usage. Mayor Bergeson advised the City must make it very clear that not having to pay for the back usage is only for this specific meter problem. Council Member O'Donnell suggested this be tied into and used as leverage to get into homes that has not yet changed to the new meter. Council directed staff to not charge residents retroactively to homes that have the meter discrepancy between the old meter and new device by a certain date. Refunds will go to residents who have already paid for the discrepancy. Residents do not have to pay for the discrepancy specifically because the flyer was sent out stating they would not have to.