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Council approves adjustment to utility account after resident disputes long-standing meter charges
Summary
A resident, Tom (Gillum), asked the Public Works Authority to adjust the water account at 1937 N Southern Stick Highway; the board approved staff's motion to adjust and refund charges going back up to five years per the city's billing policy.
The Newcastle Public Works Authority approved an adjustment to a utility account after a resident, identified as Tom Gillum, told the board the property’s old water meter had been removed and he had continued to pay charges for a meter he says was no longer in service.
Gillum approached the board during the citizen comment portion of the Public Works Authority meeting and asked that the account for service address 1937 North Southern Stick Highway (utility account 05-1709-00) be reviewed and adjusted. He said that an old meter — he estimated it to be about 25 years old — had been disconnected or removed and that billing records showed no water usage for the period. "...we found 1 that's about 25 old, and I've been paying on it ever, for the last 20 years," Gillum said.
Staff told the board the city's billing system allows review back up to five years; staff recommended an adjustment consistent with available records. A motion to adjust the utility account and refund the appropriate amount for the past five years was made, seconded and carried by roll call.
Ending: The board approved the account adjustment; staff will process the refund consistent with the city's five-year billing review limit and provide administrative follow up to the resident. No changes to city billing policy were made during the meeting.
