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Council declines to reduce anomalous Waterville water bill; billing staff suggests payment plan
Summary
Council reviewed a citizen appeal about an unusually high 34,000-gallon water bill; staff said a new meter shows normal usage since replacement and, citing precedent, recommended a payment plan rather than a reduction; council did not approve a reduction.
City billing staff briefed the council on a complaint filed by Ken Sandborn regarding a 34,000-gallon water bill that far exceeded his typical monthly use of 2,000–3,000 gallons. Staff installed a new meter and reported about 1,171 gallons of usage from the installation date to the present, but could not identify where the apparent earlier usage occurred.
Billing staff recited tiered rates to illustrate the cost difference: the first-tier rate, second-tier and third-tier rates produce dramatically different bills for large usage spikes. Council members discussed common causes (leaks, guests, running toilets, basement work) and whether the city should reduce the bill as a one-time hardship. Several council members warned that routinely reducing bills would set a problematic precedent; staff recommended setting up a payment plan rather than issuing a credit.
Outcome: council did not authorize a reduction but directed billing to work with the resident on payment arrangements.
Next steps: billing staff to provide repayment options and to monitor the meter readings for any future anomalies.
