Resident wins committee relief after dispute over a 136,000-gallon water billing

During public works committee review of utility appeals, resident Matt Wagner told the committee he received a bill showing 135,900 gallons of usage for a billing period — roughly 14½ times his normal monthly consumption — and asked that the disputed portion be removed.

"If I would have had 140,000 gallons in my house, I would have had feet of water in my basement," Wagner said, adding that he never hired a plumber or made changes that would account for the usage. Wagner said he had tracked his bills and paid what he believed to be the correct portion; he asked the committee to clear the erroneous charge so both sides could move on.

Staff described steps taken after Wagner’s November complaint: utility staff inspected the meter, replaced it the day after the disputed reading, and sent the original meter to the manufacturer for testing. The manufacturer’s paperwork indicated the meter was reading correctly; however, the committee heard that the test report and return of the meter arrived weeks later. Committee members said the appeal process exists for cases where readings cannot be reconciled.

After discussion, the committee moved to remove the disputed charge and amend the credit to reflect the current outstanding balance rather than a hard-coded number. The motion passed; the committee chair said the item will be placed on the May 4 council agenda for final action.

Why it matters: The case illustrates the city’s new appeals process for utility customers and the operational steps staff takes — meter inspection, replacement, manufacturer testing — when large or clearly anomalous readings appear. The committee’s decision relieves the resident of the unexplained charge while preserving staff’s ability to adjust accounting to the exact outstanding figure.

Next steps: Staff will compute the precise credit amount and place the item on the council agenda for final confirmation.