Creston water faces another account issue

Creston Waterworks reviewed and took action on an issue Tuesday of an outstanding water bill between the buyer and seller of a property.

A property in the 900 block of West Montgomery sold last month. The minimum charge for water is 2,100 gallons. The only way to stop the minimum bill is to have the water meter removed from the property. The seller of the property notified Creston Water in March the intent to sell. Options are to have the water bill in the seller’s name until the property sells or the meter can be removed. It’s common for the account name to change at the point of sale.

The house sold two months later but the meter was not removed. The seller has received two months of minimum bills. The buyer does not want the water bill in their name yet as the bills are still being sent to the seller. The only evidence Creston Water has is the initial telephone call. It is speculated the seller forgot to call Creston Water and inform of an account change.

The account has been put on hold because of the seller’s request to review the issue, which the board respected. The buyer is from out of state and it is not known if a realtor was involved in the transaction. Creston Water staff does not know of a similar issue that has happened in the past.

“This is a new one,” said General Manager Steve Guthrie who explained the issue. Guthrie said it is not Creston Water’s responsibility to instigate the exchange of utilities. The house is vacant.

The board approved to inform the buyer via letter informing the need for Creston Water access to disconnect the meter in the property or have Creston Water disconnect water service outside the property including all fees to the buyer. They will allow 30 days for response before taking further action.

To start the meeting, board chairman John Tapken was adamant the board follow its approved policies.

“We can’t keep waffling around. We have to support the staff. We have got to do it,” he said.

Tapken’s remarks come a month after a 3-2 vote when the board waived a $120 fee related to the board’s deceased account holder policy for a person who has taken over such an account. The board had approved its deceased account holder policy earlier this year.

Residents in the 800 block of South Birch Street met the board in May about being charged $120 for a new account and a $50 name transfer fee. The couple continued to pay the water bill at the property where the account holder died in 2009. After the death, the person claimed she was not informed of having to make an appearance to Creston Water then to pay $50 to change the name on the account.

The board approved the deceased account policy to prevent a person from moving into a property with the water account still in the deceased’s name. The person potentially does not pay the water bill and then leaves the property as the water board has no recourse for the person who created and did not pay the outstanding bill. Creston Waterworks uses legal procedures to determine account holders who are deceased for the letter.

Board president John Tapken said last month he feared setting a precedent.

Board member Melissa Driskell said last month she is willing to hear a person’s explanation of their situation. She was not in attendance Tuesday.

Tapekn made a motion Tuesday to remove an agenda item about curb stop regulations. His motion was approved.

The meeting was the first for new board member Dave Wynn who replaced Michele Thatcher who resigned last month.

In other water news...

Guthrie told the board filters may be hampering the water treatment facility’s lack of reaching full capacity. Last week, there were times it was not reaching desired amounts creating a stress in the system. Guthrie said water quantity for customers was never at stake to ask users for voluntary water restrictions. Guthrie speculates the issue may have started late last summer. Engineers are scheduled to analyze the facility and filters.