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Council approves leak credit for GA BBQ after billing dispute
Summary
The council voted 3-0, with one abstention, to grant a leak credit to GA BBQ after the restaurant owner disputed a high water-usage bill; the water superintendent said meter hardware and software were functioning and flagged responsibility rules for post-meter use.
Council members voted to grant a billing credit to GA BBQ after the restaurant owner raised concerns about a high water-usage invoice due Feb. 10.
The owner of GA BBQ spoke during the meeting's public-comment period about an unexpectedly large water bill. The city's water superintendent explained that the Neptune system's meter hardware and software were operating as intended and said once water passes through the meter, responsibility for use rests with the customer. The superintendent also said the meter itself had not shown signs of malfunction.
Councilmember John Smithson and Councilmember Carol Berry moved to provide a leak credit. The motion passed 3-0, with Councilmember Bob Harrison recorded as abstaining. The minutes record the motion as "JS/CB 3-0 with BH abstaining." The record does not specify the exact credit amount.
The action followed discussion of possible causes and confirms the council's authority to grant billing relief in individual cases. The minutes do not indicate the council directed staff to change billing procedures or to perform additional metering audits as a result of this vote.
Next steps: the minutes note the credit was approved; there is no further action listed such as a formal policy change or follow-up timeline.
