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Resident tells Heath council she paid $5,640 in disputed utility charges, asks city to separate water from sewer
Summary
At public comment, Rosella Rodriguez told the council she was billed bundled water, sewer and trash charges for years after she said the property was largely unused. She asked staff to separate water and sewer charges and review past bills; staff agreed to follow up.
Rosella Rodriguez addressed the Heath City Council during public comment and described a multi-year dispute over utility billing. Rodriguez said she has been charged combined water, sewer and trash fees since 2017, despite limited water use after semi-relocating on the property, and that she received bills totaling about $5,640 between 2017 and 2021.
"From 2017 to 2021 ... I paid $5,640 for water," Rodriguez said, adding that most charges were for sewage and trash on months when she said she did not use water. She said she repeatedly asked staff to separate water charges from sewer and trash and to correct the billing but that the utility continued to turn service on and off inconsistently. Rodriguez also said she received a $500 citation after traveling to water plants on an assigned watering day.
City staff responded at the meeting that they would follow up. Mayor and staff told Rodriguez she could leave documentation with Mister Alexander for the city to review and that the council would have staff look into ordinances and potential remedies. Mister Alexander (staff) agreed to contact her for follow-up.
The council did not take formal action during the meeting; staff were asked to investigate the account, review billing records, and report back to the resident and council if changes were warranted. Rodriguez left copies of her bills and said she hoped the matter would not "fall on deaf ears."
