Ferndale Looks to Establish Water Dispute Board
Have an issue with your water bill? Ferndale is looking to put together a board to hear your disputes.
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As part of potential changes to Ferndale's financial policy, the city is looking to establish a "water dispute board."
The changes were presented as a draft at Ferndale's Nov. 14 City Council meeting.
The addition of a dispute board states: "The City will create and maintain a Water Dispute Board to hear customer disputes about water charges under dispute. The Board will have the responsibility of investigating disputes, determining whether the dispute has merit, and explaining their decision about the validity of the charges to the customer with the dispute."
Ferndale Financial Director Jaynmarie Hubanks said the board would most likely consist of a resident, a staff member and a Department of Public Works worker.
"A number of other communities have these boards," Ferndale City Manager April McGrath said.
McGrath said the city has been researching on how to best implement a water dispute board by looking at other similar boards.
She said there haven't been a lot of disputed bills but when they do come up, there is no official policy to deal with them. This board would fulfill this need.
The changes in the financial policy are still in draft form and will need to go back to council for approval.
Thomas Gagne
7:03 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Did I read that quote right?
"The City will create and maintain a Water Dispute Board to hear customer disputes about water charges under dispute."
:-)
Terry Parris Jr.
9:12 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Yep.
Guy Fawkes
9:15 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
One entity ... The Water Dispute Board ( a panel of appointed officials) ... will be in place to hear ... the Disputes ( a concept about disagreements over terms ) on Water Charges.
Let's not pretend there's some sort of ridiculous over-reaching government conspiracy at play.
Thomas Gagne
10:38 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Nothing about conspiracy, Guy. I was remarking, too subtly it seems, about the Dodge Ball (the movie) inspired sentence with a nod to the Department of Redundancy Department.
The ADBAA (American Dodge Ball Association of America)
The five Ds of dodge ball (dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge)
Michael Milobar
10:57 am on Thursday, December 1, 2011
I live in Oak Park & my water bill is always $140.00 or less but in Sept received a $679.00 bill.
Went to the water co & was told my last 6 bills were estimates & last bill was actual.I now have a $747.00 bill with a shut off notice.
I feel like I am being scammed by the city but not sure what to do?
Jim O'Donnell
12:00 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
I'd like to dispute my bill, but I know who's at fault (looking in your direction, kids). I need to install a 10 minute timer to shut off hot water in the shower. I think that would lower my water and gas bills dramatically.
Vince
2:02 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Ferndale has one of the highest water rates around. I dispute they do something about it and make living in Ferndale affordable. Then maybe we will not need a dispute board.
Vince
Terry Parris Jr.
2:32 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Vince: Can you shed light on what the water rates in our surrounding communities are?
Thomas Gagne
4:57 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Vince is correct, but it's not because of the cost of water. It's because several years ago we passed a bond to replace/update our sewer system. the assessment for that bond is included with the water bill. As a consequence, it appears our water rates are higher than everyone else's.
What I'm not sure of is when that assessment rolls-off the books. That'll take a little bit of digging, or perhaps just a quick phone call to city hall or DPW.
Terry Parris Jr.
5:01 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Tom: What are the water rates of the surrounding communities?
Thomas Gagne
9:21 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Terry, I looked all over for an article that listed the rates, but I think it was a table that appeared in a Free Press story that's no longer online. I even tried Infotrac Newsstand and couldn't find what I was looking for.
Do Patch editors have access to Lexis/Nexis?
Terry Parris Jr.
9:32 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Unfortunately no. But we have access to our respective city halls. I'll ask around and see how they compare to Ferndale's. Just curious if someone actually had the other water rates available. Thanks Tom for checking it out.
Thomas Gagne
9:34 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Who do I contact @AOL to convince them you folks ought to have Lexis subscriptions?
In the meantime, you can gain access to Gale Research's InfoTrac through the library. The link I use to get there is
http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/dispAdvSearch.do?prodId=STND&userGroupName=lom_accessmich
Deena Kachadoorian
6:33 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
My current water bill is an insane amount at $548.10, which can't possibly be accurate. I am the only water user in this house and my water use is modest, so someone's screwing up and I am not paying this bill! I questioned my last bill at $175, which was double the norm for me and they sent someone here who says the meter is fine!!!! When does this board take effect and while in dispute will they expect full payment?
Terry Parris Jr.
6:35 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Deena: Those details haven't been laid out yet. The board is part of a draft proposal for changes in the financial policy -- so this hasn't been approved by council yet. We'll let you know as soon as it is established.
Deena Kachadoorian
7:26 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thanks Terry, I wonder how many Ferndalians have gotten socked with unrealisticly large water bills? How can a current bill be more than 10 times the norm for you?
laverne
4:12 pm on Friday, December 2, 2011
Steve Neavling wrote the Free Press article that contained the chart with all the water rates - "City, suburbs gear up for a battle over who'll control Detroit water system" - 01-28-11.
FYI... the suburbs purchase water wholesale from DWSD for approximately $28/month/household, and DWSD delivers that water to the municipality. the municipalities are responsible for getting the water to their residents and charge us on average ~120% more than what they pay DWSD, although some communities raise rates as much as 300% more.