Resident urges help after receiving $887 water bill, says she paid plumbers and sought utility aid

Sandra Bridal, who identified herself as the owner of a small office building on Jefferson Avenue, told the board she received a May water bill for $887.59 after earlier bills of $431.20 and $182. "I don't know what to do," Bridal said, describing multiple trips to the utility office, failed troubleshooting attempts and more than $600 in plumbing bills she said she paid to test and repair fixtures.

Bridal said she had hired several plumbers; one checked toilets and sinks and found no leaks, and she produced invoices for plumbing work and receipts when she spoke to the board. "I've already paid over $600 and then $300 for plumbers," she said, "I don't think we owe $887.59."

During the meeting a staff member confirmed the bill shown by Bridal was due on the fifteenth of the month and told her the utility would follow up. Board members asked staff to take the issue and have utility personnel contact Bridal; a staff speaker said he would "get with Gary first thing in the morning." The board did not take a formal vote on her request.

Why it matters: Bridal's statement points to a customer-billing dispute that the utility must resolve with documentation and follow-up. Board members and staff acknowledged the complaint and instructed staff to investigate and contact the resident. The discussion also highlighted broader concerns about access to meter readings after the city's transition to automated meters; multiple speakers noted that customers will be able to view usage through a portal once it is activated.

The board's next procedural step was to have staff contact Bridal and to investigate whether the utility provided correct contact information for field staff and whether meter or billing errors contributed to the high bill. No formal credit or adjustment was announced during the meeting.