Warsaw Wastewater Billing Issues Continue
The city of Warsaw is once again dealing with missed billings and it’s up to the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety to resolve the matters.
During Friday morning’s meeting, B.O.W. members mayor Joe Thallemer and Jeff Grose heard two cases of missed sewer bills totaling approximately $7,000. The problem has turned up on several occasions over the last couple years, and in most cases the conflicts were handled in a way that satisfied both parties. The same fair approach was handled again yesterday.
Kenneth Anglin attended Friday’s meeting in response to a letter he received from the city pertaining to a duplex he owns at 762 W. Eagle St. Anglin had never been billed for the units, noting the property has a septic tank that he pays to pump once a year. He said the tank is too low to tap into the city wastewater system, but a water line does connect with the city line.
State law allows municipalities to go back 6 years and demand payment for services rendered. In Anglin’s case, the $4,694.40 bill came as a shock. “My handled all of this, but she’s gone now,” he explained. “I thought it was done years ago because we had the septic tank and I pay to have it pumped every year.”
Open discussions with Anglin between Thallemer, Grose, city wastewater utility manager Brian Davison and city planner Jeremy Skinner found that, because the water line does tie on to city utilities, the bill would need to be paid. “That’s ok,” Anglin said, “I just want it to be fair.” The B.O.W. discounted the bill to an even $4,000 and gave Anglin 12 months to pay it off.
In a similar matter, Dewayne Busz also received a bill from the city for unpaid wastewater services. His $2,347.20 bill was not as easily acted upon. The Lake Street property in question no longer exists and all utilities were pulled or discontinued approximately 10 years ago. Skinner said he could not find any documentation on file, but agreed that a permit would have had to be issued for the demolition. That matter will be reviewed at the next B.O.W. meeting in two weeks.
In other business, in the absence of fellow board member Charlie Smith, Thallemer and Grose agreed to allow the Warsaw Police Department to seek bids for a new animal control truck.
The current truck, which has an enclosed top in the bed, will be used by the department for services such as plowing the department parking area and as a back up vehicle when needed. WPD Chief Scott Whitaker said a smaller, more efficient truck will be utilized and will be equipped with cages in the open bed of the truck.
WPD’s 2014 budget supports the purchase of four police vehicles, three of which have already been purchased.
The next B.O.W. meeting is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1.