Newcastle council approves adjustments to residents' water bills after confirmed leaks; staff warns of short-term low pressure during booster relocation

On Dec. 9, 2024, the Newcastle City Council voted to adjust several residential water bills after staff confirmed leaks and subsequent repairs at the properties, and city staff said a planned relocation of a Highway 76 booster station could cause temporarily low pressure in parts of the system next week.

Council approved motions to adjust billing for accounts identified by staff after review of repair documentation and meter readings. For one item staff reported an account (service address listed as 1321 Brook Drive, account numbers referenced in the staff report) tied to Cheryl Palmer/Cheryl Fulmer; council voted to continue and then to adjust the billing for the August through November period to the average of the prior 12 months. The motion passed with recorded “yes” votes including Council Member Mike Logan, Council member Kimberly (last name not specified in transcript), Council Member Marcy White and Romick (last name not specified). The mover and seconder were not recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.

Several residents gave public comment. Brenda Brown identified herself as speaking on behalf of Eric Owens and said the property recently required extensive repairs after meter readings produced an unusually high bill — “we had a bill for 1,800; it usually runs around 600,” Brown said in public comment. Brown said a plumber replaced lines from the house out through pasture and that the work occurred within the last 30 days. Following that testimony staff moved to adjust the bill for the affected months to the prior 12-month average.

In a separate citizen appeal identified in the staff report (account number 01-4835-04, service address 5110 Drive Lane), a resident said a toilet leak discovered around Oct. 11 caused continuous loss and that she provided photos and a completed repair invoice. City staff moved to reduce the impacted September/October billing period to the prior 12-month average; the motion passed with recorded “yes” votes from Council Member Mike Fortune, Council member Kimberly (last name not specified) and Council Member Marcy White. The transcript records the motions and the roll-call “yes” votes; it does not record detailed mover/second information for those motions in the provided excerpt.

City staff also delivered a monthly finance and utilities update that included revenue and expense percentages and fund balances. Staff reported overall revenues and expenses “within expected” ranges, provided percentages for several funds (for example, a reported operating-rate figure of roughly 41.6–41.7% in one presentation segment), and said the city’s current indebtedness was “a little over $43,000,000.” Staff also listed balances for a range of funds (general fund, capital improvement, impact fee funds and others) during the presentation. The finance presentation in the transcript was given by an unnamed city staff member; the figures above are taken from that staff report as stated to council.

Public works staff told council the Highway 76 booster station will be relocated likely next week and that the relocation work could cause two to three days of lower pressure in affected neighborhoods; staff said they intend to issue advance messaging for residents. Staff also said materials purchased for the Southwest 24 waterline are consistent with previously discussed plans to use that portion of funds for water projects.

The council’s actions were limited to the billing adjustments recorded in the meeting minutes excerpt. Staff indicated required documentation (repair invoices, maintenance requests, and photos) had been provided for the adjusted accounts before council action.

Several items discussed during the hearing—including the finance briefing and the booster station relocation—were presented as information items with no formal council vote recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.

Ending: Council members asked no further questions after the adjustments and staff’s operational updates; staff said it will continue follow-up with affected customers and notify residents in advance of the booster station relocation.