Roxboro council authorizes utility account audit and weighs hydrant‑meter bill adjustment after resident appeal

Roxboro — The City Council authorized a utility-account audit with No Cost Solutions and heard a public appeal from a resident seeking relief for a large hydrant‑meter charge.

The council voted to authorize a one-year engagement with No Cost Solutions, a firm that will audit utility accounts and pursue recoveries and cost-savings for a contingent fee (50% of any recovered revenue or identified cost savings). Staff emphasized the low financial risk because the firm’s fee applies only if the city recovers funds.

In public comment, Mr. Wilkins described bringing a hydrant meter back to city staff after it apparently registered about 370,000 gallons; he said the meter had been left in his truck and may have bounced, producing an inflated reading. "I come to you tonight asking for an adjustment ... because of a mistake that is 100% mine," Mr. Wilkins said. He added that he did not intend to blame staff and noted that a prior billing adjustment had been made.

Council discussion focused on verification and program policy: staff reported the city tested the meter and said the unit was reading; neither staff nor council could definitively prove whether the meter’s movement while mounted in a vehicle could have produced a false high reading. Council suggested options including vendor consultation, partial cost-sharing, or restricting future meter use and directing hydrant fills to the fire department. Staff agreed to contact the meter manufacturer and report findings to council.

What this means: the audit authorization begins a review of utility accounts that could yield recoveries or savings; the hydrant‑meter dispute will be handled administratively after staff consults the vendor and provides council with options.