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NO WAY-This needs to stop!

17 (68%)

Hmm... sounds a little fishy to me

3 (12%)

Depends on the situation

0 (0%)

I somewhat agree with this policy

3 (12%)

I completely agree with this city policy

2 (8%)

Total Members Voted: 23

[Brian Beneteau]

Kazimer,
I am willing to try to resolve this with Citizen1, and I hope he or she emails me to allow me to do so. The response to me was quoted to give exactly what I was told by the water department. I didn't want to put my interpretation into the response, so I felt it best to be completely open with his reply. I certainly could have been very brief, however I felt it necessary to show the entire explanation. Should Citizen1 wish, I will meet him or her at City Hall to discuss this with the Department head to close this matter.
Thank you for your comment. I always appreciate it.

Nadjalu,
I understand and have been on the receiving end of a jacked up electric and gas bill due to estimation. I do not completely agree with this process, however, I do feel it is less abrasive than to have service shut off with a reconnection fee. Billing someone "zero" would put the person further in arrears the next month, so I can't see that as a solution. Seeing a higher number seems to be more effective, in my opinion, plus it would get resolved as soon as the water department was able to get an actual read. As the amount would be corrected, I do not see this as taking advantage of someone, but rather an attention getter to help correct the situation. There do seem to be flaws, and I will look into it as I said before.
Thank you also for your comments.

Happy Housewife,
I will apologize for them missing your appointment. Contact me and I will discuss your appointment with the Water Department. As someone said earlier, you should not be inconvenienced by having to wait around all day, just to realize the appointment has been forgotten or cancelled. Rescheduling at your convenience will be what I will look into for you. PLease contact me at brian.beneteau@monroemi.gov

[Kazimer]

Kazimer,
I am willing to try to resolve this with Citizen1, and I hope he or she emails me to allow me to do so. The response to me was quoted to give exactly what I was told by the water department. I didn't want to put my interpretation into the response, so I felt it best to be completely open with his reply. I certainly could have been very brief, however I felt it necessary to show the entire explanation. Should Citizen1 wish, I will meet him or her at City Hall to discuss this with the Department head to close this matter.
Thank you for your comment. I always appreciate it.

Councilman Beneteau,

Thank you for your quick response. 

I appreciate that you provided the entire response from the Water Dept regarding this particular customer.  In fact,  that was the appropriate and prudent thing to do.

My request regarding the Water Dept's response is that if/when you meet with the Water Dept that in the future if such a situation comes about they look at responding in the manner I suggested. In other words use this circumstance as a learning experience for future responses with residents/inquirers.

To boil it down : (1) "Simplify , simplify and then no more." There is a need for facts, and then there is "too much". (2)  Express a sincere desire to meet the directives of the dept along with the needs of the residents.  The end result of any communication being mutual respect, shared responsibility and understanding of each parties position.

Again, thank you for looking into this particular situation along with the broader context and longer term view of future communication between the Water Dept and the residents of Monroe.

Sincerely,

Kaz

[Happy Housewife]

Happy Housewife,
I will apologize for them missing your appointment. Contact me and I will discuss your appointment with the Water Department. As someone said earlier, you should not be inconvenienced by having to wait around all day, just to realize the appointment has been forgotten or cancelled. Rescheduling at your convenience will be what I will look into for you. PLease contact me at brian.beneteau@monroemi.gov

Thanks!

[Frenchfry]

I sure wish I had your diplomatic skills Kaz…..I’m very weak in that department (as well in other departments some might say)

Hopefully this water department billing “policy” is revised, becoming more sensible, forthright, and honest.

And it’s such a simple fix…..full disclosure conspicuously placed on the bill……On each and every bill several months in advance, warning of impending shut off for non-compliance.

There wouldn’t be any extra postage costs nor would valuable manpower be wasted from the manual delivery of notices method currently employed…..not to mention the fuel savings.

Yep, someone wasn’t thinking clearly when that policy was instituted.

Damn, I know that last comment was unnecessary but oh well.

[Bedfordres]

Why doesn't the water dept put outside readers on all the homes?  Or at least those that they haven't been able to gain access?   I wouldn't want an estimated bill every month for years on end.

[Brian Beneteau]

Why doesn't the water dept put outside readers on all the homes?  Or at least those that they haven't been able to gain access?   I wouldn't want an estimated bill every month for years on end.

That is precisely what they are in the process of doing. There still are 5000 or so to be replaced with the radio read meters. After all are done, the estimated bill will become extinct.

[Lethlweapn]

Why doesn't the water dept put outside readers on all the homes?  Or at least those that they haven't been able to gain access?   I wouldn't want an estimated bill every month for years on end.

I think that's why they are trying to go with the meters that have a radio built into them, so they can read the meter just by turning the radio on remotely. It's less expensive in the long run.

[historeluver]

I think that's why they are trying to go with the meters that have a radio built into them, so they can read the meter just by turning the radio on remotely. It's less expensive in the long run.

So.....what happens when the radio malfunctions and sends a incorrect reading? YOU ARE SCREWED!! You're depending on the the meters to send correct readings. I had no way of knowing the meter was not running properly. My bills were the same as they had been since I moved into our house in 2001.

I hate not having a meter in my home that I MYSELF can check and make sure nothing on my end screws up. I guess it makes no difference. With business......it's all about the money flow.

[T-M-T]

So.....what happens when the radio malfunctions and sends a incorrect reading? YOU ARE SCREWED!! You're depending on the the meters to send correct readings. I had no way of knowing the meter was not running properly. My bills were the same as they had been since I moved into our house in 2001.

I hate not having a meter in my home that I MYSELF can check and make sure nothing on my end screws up. I guess it makes no difference. With business......it's all about the money flow.

My house is fairly new and has the radio read feature, but also the analog meters are there and could be used as a backup or to double-check.  Are you saying there is no meter at all, just the radio reader?

[historeluver]

My house is fairly new and has the radio read feature, but also the analog meters are there and could be used as a backup or to double-check.  Are you saying there is no meter at all, just the radio reader?

The meter and radio are both underground out by the road. There is no way that I myself am able to even check the meter. The meter is their backup to let you know that yes, you used this amount of water, and YES, YOU OWE US MONEY!

[Citizen1]

First off, let me say that I appreciate everyone who took the time to comment on this problem.  Especially to Councilman Beneteau for his extra work on this matter.  It's nice to see a public official who is willing to go the extra mile for the citizens he or she represents.

Upon reading the response letter from the WD that was sent to Mr. Beneteau-I have to say that I just don't agree with much of it.  I stated that I never saw any form of notice about the WD needing to enter the house-and that's a fact.  One of the things I discussed with the WDS was the fact that relying on notices being left is obviously not working, especially if there are some 5000 meters still unread.  I think the easiest way would have been a phone message or note written directly on my bill as another suggested.  I would also like to thank Mr. Beneteau for respecting my privacy and not disclosing my name or address as it seems the WD did not when it sent their letter to the councilman.  Would it not have been for Mr. Beneteau being a city representative, I would not have been happy about this.

As far as the worker being repremanded for not showing up to the appointment-it was not my intent to get anyone in trouble, especially the "working man."  Why should this person suffer for something management should be responsible for.  As someone mentioned, this worker must have been contacted by management to redirect him or her out to water leak problem. 

I hope that this worker isn't the same one who will be sent out to my home later this week. While I'm sure this person is a professional, I wouldn't want the same serviceman being the one responsible for making the final decision on the accuracy of my water meter.  I know this sound petty but it would just make me uncomfortable.  Although, I have examined the meters myself and made some recordings and comparisons.

I have scheduled another appointment for Friday of this week.  I hope we can finally get this ridiculous matter taken care of.  It is also my hope that this policy be changed as to not have this happen to any other residents of this great city. 

Thanks again to all of you who have taken time to discuss this matter. I will keep you posted on the outcome. 

[eriemermaid]

Thanks for the update and I am sure we all want to know how it turns out