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Residents press council to review water billing after brown water, high usage reports
Summary
Residents and council discussed unusually high water bills, potential leaks and brown water at a property, and options including meter pulls and rate-structure adjustments; staff to review historic meter readings and pursue fixes before rate changes are decided.
Several residents raised concerns about unexpectedly high town water bills and brown water at service connections. Speaker 6 reported a water bill near $500 and argued for a base-rate structure that would not penalize residents who maintain yards; other residents described brown water at a neighbor’s service, difficulty flushing in a dead-end line, and the presence of livestock that can elevate daily water use.
Speaker 3 (council/staff) said they will review historic meter readings on the affected connection and recommended potentially pulling the meter to flush the line if that will move enough water to clear discoloration. Council agreed to investigate meter history and leaks before changing rates, and one member asked that the matter be placed on the August agenda for further discussion of rate formulas previously provided by a state official.
No formal rate change was approved. Council members discussed procurement thresholds for repairs and emphasized working with staff to identify leaks, coordinate with the contractor and identify whether water use reflects livestock or a meter/leak issue.
