Carlton forgoes back city utility charges

By LAUREN L. DILLARD

Of The News-Register

CARLTON - About 80 water and sewer customers were recently warned the city had been erroneously charging them under an old, more favorable flat-rate schedule, and they could expect a big bill in their upcoming mail as a result.

Users took that to mean they were going to be back-billed, and raised a protest at the city council's Monday meeting. But City Manager Steven Weaver said, "My recommendation is to not charge because it was a city error."

He said he was recommending the current rate schedule be applied to affected customers in the future, which could mean substantially higher bills in some cases, but that no back charges be assessed. That would leave the city out about $12,000, he said.

The problem arose when the city switched to new accounting software. Start dates weren't entered into the program for about 10 percent of city ratepayers, so the city continued to bill them under its old flat rate of $34 a month.

Under the city's current metered system of assessing customers, that only covers 500 cubic feet of water. And city officials said some of the affected customers have been using much more than that.

"This is coming to us just as it came to all of you - as a big surprise," Councilor Ginger Williams told unhappy users. She said councilors didn't learn of the issue until they received their agenda packets for Monday's monthly meeting.

Williams acknowledged that making families pay for past usage at the new metered rate could create a hardship. But she also expressed some mixed feelings.

She noted more than 90 percent of the city's water and sewer users have been paying the higher rate all along, and the loss of revenue would affect all of the city's taxpayers. "My job is to try and be fair to all of the citizens of the town," she said.

However, the council ended up voting 5-1 with one abstention to accept Weaver's recommendation and forgo any back charges. Councilor Scott Carl dissented and Councilor David Vandewalle abstained because he had missed some of the discussion.

In an unrelated matter, the council decided to require anyone wishing to sell goods on city property to apply for a special permit. The aim is to allow such sales only in conjunction with special events.

"I don't want to see the parks full of vendors," Carl said. "We have moved beyond vending at the park, the upper park," said Councilor Gwen Jernstedt.

The vote was 6-1 with Mayor Kathie Oriet dissenting. The ban will take effect at the end of the summer season.

In other business, the council:

n Passed a mileage reimbursement resolution and a corrective budget resolution.

n Held first readings on an ordinance to amend the traffic code to include administrative fees on vehicle impounds and an ordinance to amend the city animal and nuisance laws.

n Recommended approval of a liquor license for the Clawson Creek venture on Kutch Street.