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Resident questions Del City water billing, seeks state audit; council schedules follow‑up at town hall
Summary
A resident raised prolonged concerns about being billed 'behind' for water service and requested an independent state audit covering 2020 onward. City staff declined to answer detailed billing questions during public comment but offered a one‑on‑one review and plans a fall town hall to explain billing changes and new meters.
At the Del City City Council meeting on Oct. 20, resident Ken Harton urged the council to explain why some customers are reported as "behind" on water bills despite asserting on‑time payments and asked that the city place a state audit request on a future agenda.
Hartson (phonetic) said he had pulled every bill since January 2020 and "paid every single month," yet was told the account was behind. He asked how the city could be behind when customers pay on time and said he planned to pursue a petition if the council would not place a state audit on the agenda.
City staff did not answer billing questions during the public‑comment period, citing meeting rules, but offered to meet with Harton and staff (city manager, JD, and utility staff Ms. Parrot) to review his account. The assistant city manager said staff would set up a one‑on‑one meeting and that billing details would be covered at a planned fall town hall.
Councilman Dean provided additional context during the council portion: he described how the city’s previous meter‑reading schedule (reading by work crews on a four‑work‑week rotation) could create a cumulative lag of roughly a month over time compared with strict calendar months, and he said the city is in the process of implementing automated meters and upgrading the accounting system to eliminate that mismatch.
The resident also asked about audits; staff responded that the city has had two audits this year and that one was by a new, independent auditor. Harton requested a state audit covering 2020 forward; he said he could gather a petition requiring 10% of registered voters if the council did not place the item on the agenda.
Why it matters
Utility billing changes and perceived billing errors can create financial hardship and erosion of trust in municipal services. The council and staff told residents the city would schedule presentation and Q&A at a fall town hall, and staff offered individualized account reviews for residents with unresolved questions.
Clarifying details and next steps
- City staff said account reviews can be scheduled with the city manager, utility director and billing staff; residents should request a meeting to review their individual records. - Councilman Dean outlined a meter‑reading timing issue that can produce a lag of roughly 25–30 days over multi‑year periods when meter reads are done on a four‑week rotation instead of a strict calendar month; the city is implementing automated meters to address timing mismatches. - Harton requested a state audit from 2020 forward; staff said the city had two audits this year and that one audit used a new independent firm.
The city will announce the fall town hall date on social media; staff said it will include a station to discuss utility billing.
