Eastpointe, MI - Inflated Water Bills & New Meters

Inflated water bills upset Eastpointers
City's attention-getting action turns off some

Published August 11, 2006
By Christina Stolarz The Detroit News

EASTPOINTE -- When Kevin Grand opened a recent water bill, he thought there had to be a mistake.
The 37-year-old truck driver said there was no way he and his wife could have used $300 worth of water this summer -- a bill nearly three times their normal usage.
"I was actually kind of surprised," said Grand, who has lived in Eastpointe for about a decade. "I thought there was a glitch in their computer. I didn't think it was going to be anything of major consequence."
But he soon learned his bill was inflated on purpose -- and he's not happy about it.
The city overcharged hundreds of residents as a way of calling their attention to a new meter replacement program that requires city workers to enter people's homes.
City officials say some residents were ignoring their requests to set up a time to replace the meters, so they raised rates of up to 698 households as a last-ditch effort to call the department and set up appointments.
When City Council members found out about the practice, however, they put a stop to it -- much to Grand's relief.
"If I owe for a service, I'll be more than happy to pay for what I owe," he said.
"But when they jack up the amounts … I take issue with that. They're trying to make residents jump through hoops to make their jobs easy. That's not how it works."
The overcharged households were charged for using 50 units of water -- even if they didn't come close to that amount -- as a way to encourage cooperation with the project, said David Bankes, supervisor of the Public Works and Services Department.
The average water usage for a family of five in the summer is 26 units for three months and costs about $146, said Sue Mancanni, the city's finance director.
The City Council last week said it was a practice it would do without. Council members said they were unaware of the tactic, which was approved by former City Manager Wayne O'Neal and Public Works Director Greg Brown, until they received complaints from residents.
"Obviously, I don't think that's how you go about getting residents' attention," Mayor Pro Tem Veronica Klinefelt said. "I don't see any reason to inflate a water bill. I was blown away by that."
However, Bankes said the department had used the tactic before when it couldn't get into people's houses to read the meters. He said bills were inflated only for homeowners who had received -- and not followed up with -- several notices left by the contractor that is replacing the meters. Their water account will be credited with the overcharge after their new meter is installed. Eighty residents so far are expected to have their accounts credited.
"I wasn't surprised that we had complaints," said Bankes, who declined to comment on his opinion of the practice. "We need to get in and change these water meters because it's a benefit for the whole city."
Eastpointe officials approved the estimated $3 million citywide water meter replacement project in December, Bankes said. More than 7,830 of the city's 13,628 meters have been replaced since February with the more efficient meters.
The entire project is expected to take 18 months, but Bankes said it could wrap up sooner.
Once the new meters are in place, the water usage will be read digitally twice a day from one of four readout poles that will be erected in the city. The readouts will then be downloaded to the water department's computer system to more accurately charge each customer.
However, Grand is not impressed with the project. He said it's been difficult to find a stretch of time in his hectic work schedule to be home so the workers can replace the meters.
Resident Peggy Koczab shared that sentiment.
"I'm disgusted, almost embarrassed. You can't do that to people," said Koczab, 49, who had her meter replaced this week. "There's all kind of reasons why somebody isn't home."

Meter replacement
More than 7,830 of the city's 13,628 water meters have been replaced since February.
Officials in the city's Public Works and Services Department urge residents to set up appointments to have their meters replaced.
For information or to set up an appointment, call the department at (586) 445-5053. Source: David Bankes, supervisor of the Public Works and Services Department.