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Residents report high water bills and brown water; council to review meters and billing formula
Summary
Residents told the council they received unusually high bills (one cited nearly $500) and reported brown water in a dead-end line. Council members asked staff to review historic meter readings, consider pulling the meter to flush the line, and revisit the rate formula provided previously by a state official.
Lindell — Several residents raised concerns at the July 2 meeting about sharply higher water bills and brown water in parts of town, prompting the council to direct staff to investigate meter readings and possible leaks.
"Our water bill totals close to $500 that I'm paying," one resident said, describing steep household costs tied to irrigation and yard maintenance. Other residents described a section of dead-end line that produced brown water when they tried to irrigate a neighbor's air‑conditioning pads; a council member recommended checking historic meter readings and, if necessary, pulling the meter to attempt a flush.
Council members and residents referenced an earlier state-provided formula for setting rates. One member suggested the town revisit the formula and consider a base charge so households doing minimal watering are not disproportionately penalized, while others urged a careful review before changing policy.
Action and next steps: staff agreed to examine historic meter readings for properties with complaints, investigate possible leaks or dead-end flushing issues, and place water-rate discussions on the August agenda for a fuller review of the billing formula and potential adjustments.
No vote was recorded; the item was treated as a follow-up action item and staff tasking rather than a final policy change.
