09/01/2020 - City Council Public Works Committee
AGENDA
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020
(After conclusion of Regular Council Meeting)
CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
I. ADOPT AGENDA
II. ROAD EQUIPMENT UTILITY BILL
III. WATER METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM SURCHARGE
IV. OTHER BUSINESS
V. ADJOURNMENT
Agenda Information Memo
September 1, 2020 Public Works Committee Meeting
II. Road Equipment Utility Bill
Direction to be considered:
Provide direction to City staff regarding the consideration of a request from Road Equipment,
3275 Dodd Road, for an adjustment to their utility bill for the period between April 2, 2020 and
August 12, 2020.
Facts:
On August 4, 2020, Road Equipment, 3275 Dodd Road, sent a letter to the City Council
requesting an adjustment of their extremely high utility bill resulting from a leak caused by a
faulty valve in their restroom.
On August 13, 2020, Road Equipment sent an addendum to the Council. They advised a second
leak had been discovered in a 1” pipe under their shop floor when water seeped up through a
concrete expansion joint into their shop on August 11. This second leak appears to be the cause
of most of the excess water usage during the billing periods in question.
Actual water and sewer usage/billings compared to normal are shown here:
Water Read Gal. Usage Actual Avg Normal
Dates (000s)Charge Charge Difference
April bill 1/3 - 4/2 618 1,190.52$ 36.00$ 1,154.52$
July bill 4/2 - 7/6 2,901 5,573.88 36.00 5,537.88
curr qtr to date 7/6 - 8/12 1,360 2,615.16 13.00 2,602.16
Water over normal 9,294.56$
Sewer Read Gal. Usage Actual Avg Normal
Dates (000s)Charge Charge Difference
April bill 1/3 - 4/2 618 2,393.67$ 68.00$ 2,325.67$
July bill 4/2 - 7/6 2,901 11,228.88 68.00 11,160.88
curr qtr to date 7/6 - 8/12 1,360 5,265.21 25.00 5,240.21
Sewer over normal 18,726.76$
Water from the second leak almost certainly did not flow into the sanitary sewer system. Water
from the first leak may have made it into the sanitary sewer system, but staff have not had an
opportunity to investigate to make a determination. To the extent water from a leak is
determined to have not gone into the sewer, past practice is that the sewer charges would be
waived.
As to the water usage, the City’s past practice in similar situations is to not forgive the water
charges since the water was delivered. However, we offer the customer the opportunity to pay
it back over a period of two years, interest-free. That offer has already been made to Road
Equipment. Staff is not aware of a case where the water charges have been forgiven.
Public Works staff will be available to address any questions the Committee may have on this
item to assist in their consideration of the request. The Committee’s direction to staff will be
forwarded to the City Council as their recommendation for future action.
Attachments: (2)
II-1 August 4 letter
II-2 August 13 letter
Eagan Branch
3275 Dodd Rd., Eagan, MN 55121
YOUR SOURCE FOR HEAVY DUTY TRUCK & TRAILER PARTS
August 13, 2020- Update to August 4th Communication
The Eagan City Council
City of Eagan
3830 Pilot Knob Rd
Eagan, MN 55122-1810
Via email - citycouncil@cityofeagan.com
Re: Water-Sewer Billing $18,506.79 /Acct # 0036609907 / Customer #00051044 and Future
Billing for July, August, Sept. Quarter.
Dear Mayor Maguire and Members Mr. Bakken, Ms. Fields, Mr. Hansen, and Ms. Tilley:
The purpose of this letter is to provide an update to our original request dated August 4th. It was
discovered that a second leak under the shop floor slab, previously undetected, was discovered this
week.
Yesterday, a plumber capped a 1” pipe that fed under our shop floor to an outbuilding, after employees
noticed water seeping up through a concrete expansion joint in our shop area two days ago.
Master Mechanical performed a scan this morning and identified a 10x10 void that will require cutting
of the cement and repairing the washed-out area.
It appears none of the flow entered the sewer drain. The water meter reading, after the plumber repair,
was 159234, which compared to the last reading on July 6th, is indicating 1.4 million gallons of usage.
Again, please consider the March billing and the extensive cost of repairs as penalty enough for
something that was undetectable until this week.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectively submitted,
Jerome Johnson
Regional Manager
Road Equipment Parts Center
Agenda Memo
September 1, 2020 Public Works Committee Meeting
III. Water Meter Replacement/Repair Program
Surcharge Appeals
DIRECTION TO BE CONSIDERED: Provide direction to City staff regarding the final disposition of
the Water Meter Replacement/Repair (R/R) Program (City Code 3.05) surcharge for the identified
properties in accordance with the related City Ordinance.
BACKGROUND:
• On May 15, 2012, the City Council adopted an amendment to City Ordinance 3.05 regarding
the Rules and Regulations relating to Municipal Utilities that requires all properties connected
to the municipal water utility to permit the city's designated utility employee onto the
property and within the structure for purposes of the inspection, repair or replacement of
the water meter. This action, in essence, implemented the Water Meter Replacement/Repair
(R/R) Program to ensure accurate water use measurement and payment.
• Part of the amendment, and accordingly the Water Meter R/R Program, incorporated a fee
schedule that provided for a surcharge to be placed against utility billing accounts for those
properties that either didn't schedule an inspection or did not bring the identified deficiency
into compliance within the prescribed time frame.
• The Surcharge Fee is $150 per month for Single Family properties and $500 per month for all
others.
• In anticipation of appeals, the Council directed the Public Works Committee to review any
appeals and provide their recommendations back to the Council under the Consent Agenda.
Staff has recently heard from the following property owners who want to appeal a related
surcharge.
• The following surcharge appeals are being presented to the Public Works Committee for the
purpose of the corresponding recommendation for future Council action. The properties
have been found to be in compliance with City Code regarding the Water Meter R/R Program.
As a result of the individual reviews, the related surcharge appeals should be recommended
to be supported (waive surcharge) or denied.
o Nigatu Tadesse, 4313 Sequoia Drive: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge
(utility account)
o Derek Vonnahme, 1704 Hickory Hill: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge
(utility account)
o loan Truong, 4555 Scott Trail: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge (utility
account)
o Jason and Samantha Bassett, 4671 Ridge Cliff Drive: Water Meter Program – Remove $150
surcharge (utility account)
o Josh Durst, 1721 Woodgate Lane: Water Meter Program – Remove $150 surcharge (utility
account)