4. Carol Fullerton Water Problem Reimbursement RequestCity of
* Kal.ispell
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RETORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: James H. P tr'ck, City Manager
SUBJECT: Unpaid Water Damage Bill — Ms. Fullerton
Meeting .date: January 2, 2006
Background: Ms. Fullerton e pc e c d water leakage into her building. She contacted the City
and public works went to her hone to investigate. They dug around the water pipe on the City
side of the curb box and were unable to detect any water leakage from the City"s portion of the
water lire. She was advised, as a matter of policy, that the City does not make repairs to private
property and that she would need to hire a plumber to dig and repair the pipe or her side of the
water meter.
She hired a plumber and he was unable to find a leak in her line, but as he dug back, he did
discover the leak and it was on the City side of the water meter. The ruptured pipe, was not
readily apparent by the usual means of investigation and there is certainly no reason to believe
that the City was r ell gent in its 1n st gat or . The pipe rcpa red and the plumber sent his
invoice to Ms. Fullerton, who forwarded it on to public works. Unfortunately, the bill, by any
analysis, was grossly inflated. Public works examined the bill and determined that it should have
been no more than about S oo.00 based on mobilization, time and material. The bill was more
than seen tines this amount. Giving the plumber the benefit of the doubt, the City paid
approximately $800.00 to the landowner. She was advised that she should dispute the balance of
the bill with the plumber and that the City could not legally do so since the contract was between
her and the plumber.
The landowner, Ms. .l ullelon, feels the City sbou d take pay the entire portion of this bil). Since
the City does not have the legal r'ght to dispute the bill, the only other way the City can ��solve"
this issue is to pay the inflated bill. It is not approp ate for the City to agree to pay the entire
amount without direction. from City Counc.11.
Res I
p7 M` fitted,
m s B . Path k
City Manager