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Resident asks Isanti council to credit water bills after Main Street landscaping
Summary
Resident Leroy Johnson told the Committee of the Whole the city’s recent sidewalk landscaping left seeded strips that require extra watering and asked council to consider a billing credit for the additional water use. Staff said any credit would require a council vote and asked staff to quantify affected properties.
Leroy Johnson, who lives at 510 Main Street West, asked the Isanti City Committee of the Whole on Monday to consider a water-bill credit to cover extra irrigation after a city sidewalk landscaping project left seeded — not sodded — strips along Main Street.
"So my request is for council consideration to see if we can get some compensation for the water that's being used only on that seeding," Johnson said, adding that the strip is roughly "about 125 feet long and about 2 to 3 feet wide" and that he began soaker-hose watering the afternoon the crew finished.
The request prompted a range of responses from council and staff. A city staff member suggested a simple billing credit — for example, a nominal $10–$20 adjustment — because extra water would likely not incur sewer charges if billed above winter averages. City staff cautioned that any credit or waiver would require a formal council vote and noted multiple properties (staff estimated between eight and 10) may be affected.
Council members asked Johnson to return next month with his next water bill so staff can quantify the usage increase and present a recommendation. "If you come back next month, we'll figure out what we owe you, and we'll figure it out," one council member said.
Staff also urged fairness and consistency: if several properties are affected, staff recommended treating all similarly rather than granting a one-off exception. The committee did not take immediate action and agreed to revisit the matter after staff compiles usage data and a list of affected properties.
Next step: Johnson will return with billing data at the next meeting and staff will prepare options for council action, including a possible billing credit or an assessed option if warranted.
