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Belpre council moves to correct billing error and amends water‑rates ordinance
Summary
Council learned the 2024-approved water usage rates had not been entered into the billing system, voted to introduce and rapidly pass an amendment to the water‑rates ordinance, and asked staff to confirm when new rates would be applied.
Council members on April 14 discussed a discovery by the Utilities Committee that the water usage rates approved for 2024 had not been entered into the billing system, a problem that affected residential customers outside the city and all commercial customers. Utilities Committee Chair Mr. Ambrozy reported the discrepancy and introduced an ordinance to amend Ordinance No. 8 (2024–2025) establishing water rates; council voted to move the ordinance through accelerated readings and passed it unanimously.
Why it matters: The committee found a systems-entry error in the city’s billing configuration. Council members said interior residential customers inside city limits were billed correctly but accounts outside the city and commercial accounts were affected; a resident asked whether fees could be itemized separately on the bill.
What the ordinance does: The meeting record shows council approved AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 8 (2024–2025) ESTABLISHING WATER RATES (adopted as Ordinance #25, 2024–2025). The ordinance text and effective date were not included in the meeting transcript; council asked staff to confirm when the new rates would be entered into the billing system.
Quotes from the meeting: Utilities Committee Chair Mr. Ambrozy said the approved 2024 rates had not been entered into the system and moved the amendment. “Because of that finding Mr. Ambrozy made a motion to add to tonight's agenda for first reading AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 8, 2024-2025 ESTABLISHING WATER RATES,” the record shows.
Next steps and unresolved details: Council passed the ordinance by unanimous vote; Mr. Ambrozy later asked for confirmation on when the new rates would be entered into the system and Mr. Ferguson requested a copy of first‑quarter appropriations from the auditor. The ordinance’s precise billing schedule and any retroactive corrections to accounts were not specified in the transcript.
