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Local News
Builder wants concessions from N.L. council
November 09, 2009 at 6:22 am
By CORINNE BIX
Castle Homes in North Lewisburg is asking the village for help in recovering from financial losses over the past two years due to the village-wide implementation of water meters.
Susan Castle petitioned council members at Wednesday night’s regular meeting, citing losses of $18,255 in water/sewer bills incurred on empty units since water meters were installed on the company’s multi-unit apartment buildings in April 2007.
“Castle Homes were never built to be individually metered,” Castle said.
Castle Homes has 57 apartment units throughout the village, most of which were built in the 1970s and 1980s.
Each individual apartment building has one water meter and the base water/sewer rate of $60 is charged to each dwelling unit within the building.
Mayor Jason Keeran explained that when the village converted to meters from a flat rate billing system, Castle Homes was given the option to install individual meters on each of its units. Castle chose not to install individual meters, citing its units weren’t designed to accommodate individual metering.
Susan Castle explained Wednesday night that in addition to being charged the base rate for empty units, the company has suffered significant losses on unreported leaks and running toilets.
“We as a governing board can’t dictate what your tenants do,” Keeran said, “We can’t flat rate you and bill everyone else in the village based on the meter.”
Castle said repeatedly the financial burden is “literally killing us” and suggested that Castle Home buildings be grandfathered in under the old flat rate system at perhaps a higher flat rate.
“I am asking you to help me,” Castle said, “Is there anyway you can work with Castle homes?”
Castle ended by making a large public records request of water/sewer bills and proof of payment over the past 2 1/2 years.
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