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Commission directs staff to develop policy for large utility-bill spikes and to work with family with disputed bill
Summary
After extended public comment about large, unexpected water bills, the commission directed staff to work with the Saviston family on a technical solution and to bring back options for citywide dispute-resolution policies for extraordinary usage spikes. The motion passed 5–0.
The Panama City Commission on Sept. 9 voted unanimously to direct public-works staff to (1) work with the Saviston family to reach a technically acceptable solution for their disputed water account and (2) return to the commission with recommended policies for handling unusually large water-bill spikes and one-time forgiveness mechanisms used by other utilities.
The item grew into a broader public discussion after multiple citizens raised concerns about sudden, very large utility bills and about the city’s dispute-resolution tools. The Saviston account was presented as an archetype: the family’s typical monthly usage was described by staff as…
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