Friday, May 31, 2002
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Friday, May 31, 2002 |
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Union City, homeowners differ over water bill By JANET MCGREGOR
Representatives from the Old Virginia Homeowner's Association were a no-show at the Union City Council meeting, flouting the council's most recent attempt to reach an equitable agreement with the group regarding a large past-due water bill. The bill, currently $10,187.55, resulted from water line breaks at Old Virginia Condominiums. Last year, Union City became aware of a discrepancy in the amount of water going through the Old Virginia master meter versus the amount being paid by the individual homeowners. Union City buys its water from Atlanta and closely monitors the amount purchased against what is sold to city residents and businesses. They are rated by the state on their efficiency and have consistently been in the 1-2 percent water loss range, considered excellent. During the monitoring process last year they noted an increase which prompted a more thorough comparison and review. They identified problems at Old Virginia and Shannon Villa. Upon notification, Shannon Villa immediately located and fixed the problem. After receiving a second notice from the city, Old Virginia called in a specialist and discovered a major leak. The broken line was located directly over a sewer and had been draining into the system. Union City has estimated that the additional sewage processing cost the City approximately $9,000. Since identifying the leak, Union City has been working with the Old Virginia Homeowner's Association to have the problem corrected and to collect the increasing water bill. They have not charged the association with the excess sewage processing. Finally, two weeks ago, Old Virginia fixed the water line break. The president of the association, James Walker, met with the City Council during their last work session and agreed to provide a plan for reimbursing the city for the $10,000-plus water bill at the May 21 City Council meeting. The council was frustrated by being rebuffed once again in their attempts to work with the group. Mayor Moore flatly stated, "I feel we have been very benevolent in letting them tell us what they could afford." Council members debated various options for collecting and preventing further problems in the subdivision, voicing strong concerns for the residents who might be inconvenienced. The option to discontinue water service was quickly discarded. After some discussion, the council unanimously voted to give Old Virginia three days notice to provide an equitable plan for payment of the past due bill, and to give the association notice that in 60 days water would be billed through the master meter rather than to individuals. The association would then be responsible for reading homeowner's meters and the collection of water bills from individual homeowners.
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