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Board resists credit request for $2,000+ meter charge at 525 Park St
Summary
After reviewing email correspondence and account history, Ferrelview trustees indicated they will "hold firm" on a more-than-$2,000 charge on a meter for 525 Park Street Lot 42; no formal motion or credit was recorded in the minutes.
Village staff told the Board of Trustees Jan. 13 that a new service request for 525 Park Street (Lot 42) revealed a meter reading with significant usage and an outstanding bill of more than $2,000; the property manager for Ferrelwood MHP requested a credit.
City Administrator April Baxter read email exchanges between herself and Ferrelwood MHP property manager Betsy Kilker, and recounted that a prior manager, Barb Selleck, had earlier requested the address be placed into an "inactive" status after winterization by the park’s maintenance team in November 2023. Ms. Baxter said staff found the meter had advanced and that inactive accounts are not on monthly reading routes, whereas vacant accounts are monitored for usage; the recent service request dated Nov. 7, 2025 prompted the discovery.
Trustee Grant Lewton argued that because minimum monthly fees (customer connection charge, primacy fee and emergency maintenance fee) had not been paid for almost two years, the board should not grant a credit and should hold firm on the charges. Mr. Lewton said it "would best to hold firm on the charges." Chief Water Operator Kevin Turley and Trustee Mathew Damm agreed; the minutes record no tampering fees and no motion to reduce or credit the bill.
Why it matters: the dispute highlights how account-status designations (inactive vs. vacant) affect monthly reading routes and billing, and the practical consequences for landlords and property managers when meters continue to accumulate consumption while an account is not routed for regular reads.
Next steps: the minutes record the board’s position to uphold the charges; the board did not record a formal vote to impose or waive charges, and staff will proceed under the direction recorded in the minutes.
