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RITZVILLE – Tempers flared over water bills during the March 7 City Council meeting.
During the public input portion of the meeting resident Liz Brodie took to the microphone, saying she had conducted “forensic accounting” for the past two years on certain city water invoices, including her own billings as well as invoices sent to other residents.
“What I found was seriously disturbing,” she said.
She then shared her prior work history reviewing project management controls for entities in New Jersey, Seattle, Las Vegas and elsewhere. Brodie said she has extensive knowledge of proper governmental accounting controls.
“There’s no historical accounting for Ritzville utilities,” Brodie said, noting the city cannot provide sufficient detail about past billings or payments. She also complained about unexplained fluctuations in monthly invoices.
“At one point, I called the city to inquire about payments not being reported on my bill,” she said. “I was told, ‘It’s a mistake, but our legacy system is being corrected. It just doesn’t record your credit cards the way it should.’”
Mayor Linda Kadlec interjected.
“We’re in negotiations about this matter,” the mayor said. “We have been addressing the problem. We’re not ignoring it.”
She then told Brodie that the council meeting was not the proper time or place to discuss this issue.
Undeterred, Brodie asked, “Why are we assessed late fees without explanation?”
Clerk-Treasurer Julie Flyckt said she was unfamiliar with Brodie’s account and would research the matter further.
She offered to meet with Brodie privately.
Next up was Diane Spain who claimed the city had forgotten to bill her from November to April. “Yet, I still had water and garbage service,” she said. “All those months, I carried a $600 credit. But when I was finally billed, that credit disappeared.”
Spain said she met with the mayor and city clerk about the matter, but continued to receive late fee assessments.
“When I filed a public records request, the city couldn’t provide my billing history,” she said.
Then came another resident who began, “You’re not gonna like this. I’m having the same problem.”
After outlining her complaint, that resident, whose name was not provided, said city employees do not treat residents with proper respect.
Later in the meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Flyckt returned to the water billing issue.
“I want to touch on two different aspects,” she said.
First, she agreed the city had ongoing problems with its legacy billing system, but noted the current Springbrook system is much better.
Second, Flyckt said that prior staff mistakes led to some problems identified by residents. Observing that current staff is still learning the new system, she said, “Obviously there’s some work to do so employees know when to escalate billing issues to supervisors.”
In other business during the meeting:
A commercial property at 704 W. First Avenue was discussed during a “show cause” public nuisance hearing. The council’s vote was split, so the property was not declared a nuisance in accordance with Section 3.36 of the city code.
The council approved “letters of support” for obtaining $2.4 million in federal funding for a sewer system improvement project. The letters were addressed to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Shoreline, and Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rogers, R-Spokane. If approved, the grant will require the city to provide matching funds totaling twenty percent of the full grant amount.
Public Works Director Dave Breazeale noted that damage caused by a water leak at the golf course clubhouse has been abated. He said he expects the facility to open for business in April.
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