Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council members say they did not know city had issued check

By Wendy Ledbetter

The Prescott City Council voted in November to reimburse a city electric customer $2,000, with the stipulation that the refund would be applied as a credit to the customers account. But the customer has received a check for the full amount.

City officials cited the fact that applying the credit was a problem due to the record-keeping aspect. But several city council members say they didnt know about the change of plans and that they should have been informed of the decision.

Rudy Preston addressed the council in November regarding his stepsons electric bill.

The city-owned utility has two separate rates for residential customers. One rate is charged for those with electric water heaters or all electric appliances, and a higher per-kilowatt rate is applied to those customers with gas water heaters.

Preston told the council that his stepson had never been asked whether he had an electric water heater, but the city had charged the higher rate on the assumption that there was a gas water heater in the home. The fact that the city made that assumption was the problem, Preston said. He said others in that neighborhood were charged the lower rate, and that the city had not asked them about their water heaters.

Preston said the city had over-billed more than $2,000, but asked the council to reimburse $2,000, and to call it even.

With at least one council member citing Prestons stepsons disability, the council approved the reimbursement with the agreement that the $2,000 would be applied to future electric bills.

Preston said more than a week ago that his stepson had received a check for the full $2,000.

Following the councils regular December meeting held Monday night, several council members were asked about the change. Each of the four who were asked said they werent aware that the city had made the cash reimbursement.

It surprises me that they did that, said councilman Robert Loe. Its right. But it is surprises me.

Councilman Howard Austin said, Thats not what it says in our minutes. Austin also said that it refunding the $2,000 was an appropriate action for the council to take, but said paying the money in cash was not what the council agreed to.

Thats different than what we voted to do, Austin said.

The minutes state, Councilman (Jerry) Wilson made a motion to approve a $2,000 electric credit to the customer. Those minutes were approved by the council during Mondays meeting.

Councilman Jerry Wilson said he wasnt aware of the cash disbursement.

That wasnt the way it was supposed to be done, Wilson said, citing the councils vote to apply the credit to the customers electric account.

Councilwoman Susie Meeks said she was also unaware that the city had taken the action.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said an accounting issue prompted the decision.

It had to do with accounting, Taylor said. Mr. (Carl) Dalrymple, our accountant, said it was easier for him to do it all at one time.

During Mondays meeting, the council unanimously approved an ordinance that requires that customers notify the city if they qualify for the lower rate. Austin said that if the city were going to put that policy into effect, it should be made clear to customers who are signing up for service. Prescott City Manager Billy House said the policy would be included on applications for service, beginning in January.