Ferndale Looks to Establish Water Dispute Board

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 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.