Resident voices concerns over high water bills
From the Tribune-News
Two local residents addressed the town council during the December 13 meeting. Brad Thomson questioned how the town utility department reads meters.
“My bill says the meter was read on the 14th,” Thomson said. “My water bill was high; I never use more than the minimum. (I realized) that the electric meter was read on the 14th, but the water was not read until 2 weeks later.”
The discrepancy in the meter reading dates caused Thomson to be overcharged on his water bill. Thomson said that he brought the bill to the attention of clerk-treasurer Mitch Winger who recalculated the bill to the proper amount. But, Thomson had another question for utility manager Dennis Eberhart.
“In my part of town different people read the electric and water meters at different times. Why don’t we have one person doing both? It seems more efficient,” he said.
Eberhart said that normally he reads Thomson’s water meter himself, but that he was busy at the time working on a grant application. Consequently, he had other utility employees read the water meters late.
“It’s just the way its always been done,” Eberhart offered as an explanation. “Many houses have electric meters in back and water meters toward the front so the meter reader would have to walk around the house. Normally we are just a few days apart. It’s just those who pay the minimum charge who are hurt (by a late reading).”
Eberhart added that if he is reading water meters late, he makes a mental calculation to adjust the bill.
Although Eberhart noted that he has been trying to get away from reading meters since he has been busy with the water project, he said does like to read meters for the exercise.
Councilwoman Tonya Warner asked Eberhart to consider having one employee read both meters at one time. Eberhart answered that he would wait until the new town board is seated.
Celinda Johnson made two proposals to the council.
One was to consider having more than one town-wide garage sale each year to help promote the town.
The other was to place signs at the town limits honoring school activities such as the fine arts and academic clubs along with the signs for sports championships.
Council president John Dunn told her that the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce is responsible for both running the garage sale and placing signs.
Town attorney Greg Hockemeyer suggested that Johnson could approach the county chamber with her ideas.
Warner noted that the town received notice that employee health premiums would be going up 18 perent. She has asked for quotes from other insurance agencies.
She also said that Duke Energy had made their annual donation to the South Whitley Emergency Food Bank.
Dave Harvey, engineer on the wastewater treatment plant project, gave a progress report. Construction is expected to begin after the first of the year.
The meeting scheduled for December 27 is canceled. The next meeting is in 2012 with the new council members and clerk.