BELLAIRE, Ohio – Members of the Village of Bellaire Water Board and water department workers met early Thursday morning to discuss many issues including smart water meter installations and customer water bills.
You can watch the meeting on the River News Network Facebook page here.
The Village of Bellaire continues its smart water meter installation project, and board members say only approximately 240 meters need to be installed. Newman Plumbing is doing the installations but some board members themselves as well as village residents are frustrated with the lack of communication with that company.
Two board members stated that they received post cards in the mail advising them to schedule an installation with Newman Plumbing. One board member said she called the number twice over two days but could not reach anyone or leave a message since the voicemail was full. She then emailed Newman Plumbing and finally received a response. She said the installation service was good, though. Another board member said he had difficulty reaching the company but once his meter was installed the service was very good. Water department staff is receiving phone calls from irate and frustrated customers about this communication issue.
The board said a business customer, Bellaire Harbor, asked for a credit on a $5,427 bill after he claimed that a high read of water usage occurred due to water bypassing due to gravel and scale in the “RPZ.” The board said the customer contends this is the village’s issue but board members said the same issue occurred in 2017. Village officials say they told the business owner to add a strainer. A village water department worker said a plumber needs to do an emergency shut off and that the business did not have a properly functioning backflow unit. One board member said Bellaire Harbor has had this issue three times and should pay its bill.
The board said every commercial business in Bellaire needs a testable backflow prevention device. This is a state rule and is measured by degrees of hazard. For instance, medical offices and hair salons must have this equipment in case there is a leak involving chemicals. Residences are held to a lower standard.
Zachary Warner, Village of Bellaire Water Distribution Supervisor, and the board discussed adding a part-time meter reader and Warner said he has a candidate in mind who has worked for the village for 3 weeks. He said Mayor Edward Marling preferred another candidate who has worked for the village 6 months but does not have a drivers license. The board stated a drivers license is required for the role since the meter reader drives a village vehicle to locations throughout town.
The board granted a payment plan for one resident who had a water leak and incurred a large bill. Board members said the person had a good payment record but ran into an issue in her home with the water but that is being resolved.
Another resident who lives on Route 214 spoke to the water department prior to the meeting about a “high read” of water usage and asked for an adjustment. The board explained the person’s meter was read toward the end of the month which can produce a high read. The board said the new meter should “even out” the readings so the man has an accurate water read and bill going forward. The board agreed to remove a penalty from his bill.
