Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Billing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Xenia landlord seeks sewer-charge relief after 700,000-gallon leak; council to review
Summary
A Xenia property owner told council he was billed roughly $8,600 after a February main break under an apartment building led to about 700,000 gallons of water lost to ground; he asked the city to consider a special adjustment to sewer charges and staff said they will review and report back.
Ryan Howard, a Xenia business owner who manages local apartment properties, asked the council April 10 to consider waiving or adjusting sewer charges assessed after a large leak beneath one building in his complex.
Howard told council staff and council he documented a recurring leak that culminated in a mainline failure in February, during which he said “there was about 700,000 gallons of water that was lost” over a seven-day period. He said the water escaped into the ground and did not pass through the sewer system, but the city assessed him sewer charges; he said the bill totaled $8,600, which he paid to avoid late fees while pursuing relief.
Howard said city staff told him the city allows two water adjustments per year under an existing policy, and that he had been told the adjustment window runs May-to-May rather than calendar-year January–December. He asked the council to consider whether a special circumstance waiver is possible in this case. Howard said he has plumbing invoices and other documentation and that the leak required a tunnel excavation beneath a three-story building to repair an inch-and-a-half main.
Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about property ownership of the main (Howard said it was on private property at 398 West Market Street) and noted they would discuss the request with staff. Councilman Crawford confirmed he had Howard’s contact information and the council said staff and council would review the matter and report back to the property owner.
No formal motion or vote was taken during the public-comment exchange; staff indicated they would confer with relevant departments and follow up with Howard.
