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Resident asks Minnetrista council to split water bill; council to consider policy at Feb. 18 work session
Summary
A resident told the Minnetrista City Council he wants the city to split an unusually high water bill after his plumber said city line debris caused the problem; staff said they lack authority to adjust bills and will bring the matter to a Feb. 18 work session for council policy consideration.
Bob Christians, a Minnetrista resident and member of the board of directors for West (formerly the West Community College conference), asked the City Council on Monday to split an unexpectedly large water bill after his plumber found what he described as debris in the city's water line.
"What I'm asking for is not for you to forget the whole bill," Christians told the council during the persons-to-be-heard segment. "If you just split it with me and pay the cost ... split it 50/50." He said his plumber inspected the service and concluded the problem originated in the city line.
City staff responded that they do not have discretion to modify utility bills and recommended the council consider a formal policy rather than one-off decisions. "Staff doesn't have discretion to modify utility bills, right? So that's a city council thing," a staff speaker said, advising that the item be placed on the Feb. 18 work session when a full council is expected.
A city utility staff member who identified herself as Carrie disputed the debris explanation. "I do not believe that there was any debris," she said, adding that the issue appeared more likely to be "a mineral issue" related to water softeners and household maintenance.
Council members agreed to place the matter on the Feb. 18 work session and asked staff to coordinate with utility billing to hold any collection action until the council reviews the complaint. Staff said they could draft a template policy that would let residents submit claims for council consideration rather than resolving individual exceptions administratively.
The council gave no immediate ruling on Christians' bill; instead it directed staff to prepare policy language and to present the matter at the Feb. 18 work session so the full council can evaluate whether to grant relief or adopt a formal process.
Next step: the council will discuss the proposed policy and Christians' request at the Feb. 18 work session; staff indicated they would place a billing hold pending that discussion.
