A Dorr woman and her husband, who own several properties in Wayland, contend they have been overcharged for water service since 2005 and they want a refund.
And they’re likely to get it.
Julie Meza, who lives on 136th Avenue, told the City Council she and her husband have owned five multi-family properties and have been overcharged, but when she called attention to the problem, she said she felt like she wasn’t being taken seriously.
Meza said she appeared at City Hall and later met with Mayor Tim Bala, City Manager Tim McLean and Treasurer/Finance Director Cheri Parrish, but has not had a satisfactory resolution of the issue.
“You haven’t been following the ordinance that governs you,” she charged. “All we’ve been getting is, ‘that’s our rates and that’s how we charge.’”
She said at issue is $2,775.43.
McLean acknowledged that “Indeed, we did find discrepancies that predate anyone now in City Hall.”
Meza said she dealt with Jeannie Frank, then treasurer of the city, back in 2005. She said she has no proof the problems go back to 2005 because there are no records. The earliest she can find on spreadsheets is August 2007.
Councilwoman Jennifer Antel said, “I don’t see why we shouldn’t refund whatever amount they’ve overpaid.”
McLean pledged to have the matter resolved, saying, “Finance Director Parrish and I and I plan to move forward with this. I want to fix this and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”