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Council reviews water-billing dispute; staff cites ordinance requiring minimum fees
Summary
Mr. James Van Hus told council he did not receive notice before a water assessment was placed on his taxes; staff said certified mail was returned and that ordinance requires minimum monthly fees for service lines even if water is never turned on.
Council members discussed a water-billing dispute brought forward by Mr. James Van Hus, who said he did not receive notice that a charge had been assessed and placed on his taxes. Staff told the council that certified mail containing notice had been returned unclaimed, and that the city ordinance requires property owners with a service line to pay a minimum monthly fee regardless of whether they have water service turned on.
Officials said the minimum charge applied to the account dated back to January 2022 and that the monthly minimum then in place was about $44 for water and sewer service. Staff indicated that they had sent prior bills and that some mail had been returned; the council said they could not take further action until Mr. Van Hus responded to staff outreach. “He feels he shouldn't have to pay anything prior through March of this year because he wasn't properly notified,” a council member summarized during the discussion.
