Council refuses water bill reduction after pipe break

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Bessemer — Members of the Bessemer City Council voted on Monday evening to refuse a request from a Bessemer resident to be relieved of a water bill that ballooned after a water pipe broke.

City Secretary Samantha Dorr said the city had changed the water meter at that location on June 28 and that the resident believed the break had occurred due to faulty installation.

She said that Fred Trevarthen had noticed a change in water pressure directly after the installation, but that changes in water pressure were not unusual. According to his son, Dave Trevarthen, it was not until about a week later that a leak had been discovered.

By then, the related water bill had grown to more than $700.

“As far as anyone could tell everything was fine,” said Dorr regarding the city’s meter installation at 605 Osmose Road.

In a communication dated Oct. 3, Dave Trevarthen, addressed the city.

“I went to his house to check the water line and witnessed a cracked PVC water line three inches downstream of the replaced water meter,” stated Dave Trevarthen. “I repaired the damaged water line.”

He added that his father’s water bill normally ranges from $165 to $200 per month and wrote, “Common sense tells me this was the result (of) the city crew changing the meter and inadvertently damaging the line.”

“As far as our work, I believe it was performed properly,” said Ben Tucker, lead of the city’s Department of Public Works.

Under questioning by Councilman Charles Tirpik, Tucker said he had been under the trailer on the day the meter was changed and it was not leaking at that time.

“I find that hard to believe,” said Tirpik.

Tucker also noted that the location of the break was 3 to 5 feet away from the connection, not 3 inches, as stated by Dave Trevarthen.

Tirpik also questioned that discrepancy, noting, “Dave Trevarthen is an engineer and I’m sure he knows the difference between 3 inches and 3 feet.”

Dorr said the water pipe that broke was 40 years old and was located underneath the property owner’s trailer. “It was not climate-controlled,” she said, explaining that the standard lifespan for interior piping is around 50 years.

Tirpik motioned to send the property owner a bill of roughly $200 for the previous month’s water bill “and call it good.” The motion died for lack of a second.

The council then voted to accept Trevarthen letter’s but to refuse his request. Instead, Mayor Adam Zak suggested that — as in past situations — the property owner have any late fees waived and have the benefit of a payment plan.

Tirpik voted no on that motion.

Zak and Councilwoman Linda Nelson expressed sympathy with the property owner but emphasized that they wished to maintain past precedence.

Council members also:

—Voted to allow Mark P. and Michelle L. Switzer to buy Lot No. 51-17-004-100 for $1, plus transfer expenses, under the city’s plan to allow the purchase of vacant, city-owned lots. The property estimated at 3.5 acres is adjacent to the Switzers’ own land at 1509 Spring St. Former DPW Lead Neal Nelson said the lot is not usable to anyone but the Switzers for development as a lawn or for storage. The vote’s action was tentative, per a utility easement draft.

—Voted to close a city compost area on Osmose Road to use by contractors. “It’s a great benefit to residents,” said Councilman Robert Coleman, who asked the DPW lead to install signage regarding the change. “It should not be available to contractors.” The mayor said that a formal approval process should be created for contractor exceptions.

Unless otherwise indicated, all other votes at Monday’s meeting were unanimous with all members present.

The council’s next regular meeting will be on Nov. 13 in the council chambers of the Bessemer City Hall.