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Resident criticizes city transparency and alleges long‑running water loss costs
Summary
Resident Maynard Little told council he believes the city has ignored a city ordinance requiring water loss below 12% and alleged the city’s water losses cost ratepayers more than $1 million annually over seven years; he asked for documentation and explanations of utility fund transfers.
During public comment, resident Maynard Little urged the council to provide more transparency about utility finances and alleged the city has a persistent water‑loss problem that has not been addressed. Little said he previously alerted staff and a council member to a city ordinance (adopted in 2019) that he said requires water loss to be 12% or less; he told council that in 2022 water loss reached roughly 30% and that ratepayers have paid "an additional 1,000,000 plus each year for the last 7 years."
Little questioned large increases in proposed FY2026 budget line items (some he said were rising 20–40%) and asked whether service levels would increase in proportion to spending. He also asked for documentation justifying a 20% utility fund reserve and a 20% annual transfer from the utility fund to the general fund to cover administrative costs.
Council thanked Little and did not provide detailed answers at the meeting; staff and council agreed to follow up with documentation. The mayor acknowledged the concerns and said staff would be asked to provide explanations of the utility fund reserve and the administrative transfer.
The council did not take any formal action on the water‑loss claims at this meeting; the claims will require staff follow‑up and verification of the ordinance and utility financial records.
