Mansfield residents confused about increase in water bills
Mansfield residents are confused about their water bills.
"I've had dozens of calls from people in the last two weeks," Councilwoman Cheryl Meier said at Wednesday's meeting.
The issue is the lack of a breakdown of costs on the bills, which simply list the total.
In early February, Mansfield City Council voted to add a fixed fee — a "readiness to serve" charge — to residents' bills. City Engineer Bob Bianchi previously said most residents would pay an additional $10.93 a month.
Stephanie Samuel, the city's utility collections operations manager, sent an email to administrators, telling them the IT department is working on a custom bill that will reflect the readiness to serve charge and meter charge.
"There's really no explanation of that breakdown (now)," Public Works Director Dave Remy said at Wednesday's council meeting.
Council members reviewed a "mocked-up" water bill that included a breakdown of charges.
"We have been trying since February to get this printed on individual water bills," Remy said. "We have run into a lot of roadblocks."
Remy said the city has talked with Tyler Technologies Corp. "to allow us to get the information provided on the bills."
"We have had infinite problems with Tyler Technology since we started the reboot," he added.
In the meantime, the information is available to customers by calling 419-755-9674.
"The best that I can give you right now is it's been worked on weekly and daily to solve the problem," Remy said.
Another issue is there are still 658 water meters that have not been converted to measure gallons instead of CCF (centrum cubic feet).
Councilwoman Stephanie Zader asked for an expected completion date, but some people have not been home when employees have been there to convert the meters.
"We need to finish this project," she said.
Bianchi proposed charging a $75 fee per month for meters that haven't been replaced.
"That would have to be done by legislation," he told council.
Shaker Water Tower to be taken down
Later in the meeting, council entered into a contract with Baumann Enterprises to take down the Shaker Water Tower near Ohio 309 and Lexington-Springmill Road. The cost will be $73,777.
"It was built in 1956 to serve General Motors," Bianchi said. "Of course, GM is no longer there. The tower is in need of significant repair."
The Environmental Protection Agency gave notice to repair the tower or remove it. The tower and land are owned by the city of Mansfield.
Bianchi said the city of Ontario does not want the tower.
The tentative start date to take down the tower is May 22 at 4:30 a.m. The project should be completed in two weeks.
Included in the process will be draining the tower, disconnecting it from the system, cutting notches in the back of each leg, closing Ohio 309 and Lexington-Springmill Road and pulling the tower over with a cable using an excavator.
In addition, approximately 150 tons of steel will have to be removed and the ground restored.
Councilman Diaz denounces gun violence
Toward the end of the meeting, Councilman Aurelio Diaz made an impassioned plea, denouncing the gun violence in the city.
Mansfield has seen three homicides in a nine-day span and five for the year. There were five homicides in the city in all of 2022.
"It's become a huge epidemic," Diaz said. "In some parts of town, there is a lot of fear in their neighborhoods."
He encouraged his fellow council members to get involved.
"It's something that we really need to figure out what to do," Diaz said. "Residents want to hear us talk about it."
He added many residents are fearful the violence will increase this summer.
Diaz said many people are not aware of Neighborhood Watch groups. To get involved, call 419-755-9740.
In other business, council:
Approved $50,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the airport gate security system at Lahm Regional Airport.
Allocated an additional $9,500 from the water fund to Davis & Newcomer Elevator Co. Inc. for emergency repairs to the service elevator at the water treatment plant.
Entered an agreement with Tyler Technologies for $77,749.92 for software maintenance.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield residents concerned about water bills
