November 26, 2013
11/27/13 Barry Woodward came before the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety at their last meeting when his water bill exceeded 100,000 gallons for the month of October. His bill has now returned to its normal level making the large usage for that month a puzzle for both he and city officials.
Plymouth Utilities Superintendent Donnie Davidson sought permission of the Board to have Woodward’s meter tested by an independent third party. That test came back showing the unit to be nearly 100 percent accurate and when replaced at the home appears to be metering properly. Woodward told the Board that he concurred that the meter does appear to be working properly and that the water obviously had gone through the meter.
Board members were asked to consider some adjustment to Woodward’s bill. In the past with unusually large unexplained bills, when it had been proved that water had not gone back to the waste water treatment plant that charge – for waste water – had been waved.
The Board is mandated by city ordinance to charge each city water customer based on the reading on the meter. Board member Shawn Grobe said that he did believe Woodward but felt that the Board had to charge based on the meter and that it wasn’t the proper authority to conduct any investigation.
The Board had previously voted to waive late charges on Woodward’s bill until the meter could be tested. The bill will have to be paid in full by Dec. 4 to avoid any further late charges.
By Rusty Nixon