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Ed Fels tells Vinton City council his home lost water after street work and asks city to review a $1,100 bill
Summary
At the Feb. 13 Vinton City Council meeting, resident Ed Fels described repeated plumbing failures and an estimated $1,100 water bill he says followed nearby street reconstruction; city staff said they would obtain the bill, consult the city engineer and follow up.
Ed Fels, a Vinton resident, told the City Council on Feb. 13 that his home lost running water for several days after nearby street reconstruction and that a line under his house was found “filled with black rust” and debris he said came from contractor work.
“I came home after two hours and turned the faucets on — no water,” Fels said, describing multiple failed hot-water heaters, clogged pipes and a replacement line that crew members found full of black rust. He said the household received a bill of roughly $1,100 after the episode; he said his typical monthly water bill is about $200.
Council members and staff acknowledged the problem and asked Fels for a copy of the bill and additional details. The council directed staff to review his usage records and consult the city engineer about whether nearby construction could have introduced debris into the service line. “Let us get the stuff from her so we can all make an educated decision,” one council member said.
Council staff explained the immediate technical steps already taken: a new supply line was run from the main to the meter pit, the contractor replaced a long hot-water pipe segment and staff installed heat tape and insulation. City staff said the line under the structure was checked and cleared, and that payments or a payment plan could be discussed with utility billing staff.
Fels asked the city to consider pursuing the contractor if the damage originated off the property; city staff said they would consult the project engineer, gather billing and technical records, and follow up with the resident. No formal claim or litigation decision was made at the meeting.
Why it matters: The account raises a potential contractor-liability, billing and public-health concern for a resident who said he lacked running water for days and struggled to cover an unexpectedly large bill. The council’s next step is to assemble usage and repair records and to advise the resident on billing options or recourse.
Next steps: Staff said they will obtain the water bill and coordinate with the engineer and the resident; the council did not take a formal vote on any claim at the meeting.
