Minutes - 2012/10/08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council October 8, 2012 Regular Meeting Page 2 Finance Director Beer reported the Ness family had been making payments on the bill, up until February of 2011. After that time, little progress has been made to pay off the bill. Staff was recommending the outstanding bill be sent to Ramsey County for certification as a special assessment against the Ness family. Mayor Flaherty questioned the typical quarterly bill for the Ness family. Ms. Ness estimated this to be $120. Finance Director Beer stated this was the estimate; however, the bill has gone as high as $150. Mayor Flaherty indicated the $1,400 bill did cover approximately four years of usage based on the current bills. Ms. Ness explained that for the four years the meter reader was not working, she continued to pay the estimate for her water usage. She did not stop paying the City all together. Dick Comben, father of Ms. Ness, did not understand how the new reader was able to read the usage over four years. Finance Director Beer explained the City had the last reading and the new reading and 1,000,000 gallons went through the meter. This number provided for the $1,400 bill. Ms. Ness disputed that she used 1,000,000 gallons of water over a five year time period. Council Member Mueller asked if Staff had an average quarterly use for water usage for Ms. Ness. Finance Director Beer stated he did have that on the property, except for 2003 through 2008. Council Member Mueller suggested the average for Ms. Ness be used to resolve this situation. She stated the average use of 54,000 gallons per quarter would not equal 1,000,000 gallons of water for the five years. City Administrator Ericson commented the property could have had a leaking pipe or a toilet that ran during the time in question. A running toilet can waste two gallons of water running every minute, or 30,000 gallons per week, or 100,000. Council Member Mueller explained she had a similar situation at her home when her meter reader failed. She questioned why communication was not made on the Ness' part. Ms. Ness explained her husband had left several messages with Public Works staff on two occasions. Mayor Flaherty requested Staff provide the Council with Ms. Ness' usage before and after the new meter reader before a decision is made on this issue. The information would come before the Council again on October 22"d 6. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom