Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Department of Public Utilities recommends reimbursement to Prologis Trust for overpayment of water and sewer fees. The overpayment was due to the September 18, 2007 fire meter reading that was misread by our meter reader and entered incorrectly in the billing system causing the customer to be over billed during this time frame. The correct meter reading should have been 01295 not 12954. The customer paid the bill on October 16, 2007 for $25,266.23. On January 16, 2008, a meter reading employee verified the company's meter reading and discovered that this error occurred on September 18, 2007. A customer service representative issued a correction in the billing system resulting in the current credit showing on the account. The customer had already paid their most recent bill of $8,021.31 which was received on January 15, 2008. The total refund to the customer is $25,897.24.
It is requested that this legislation be handled in an emergency manner in order to reimburse the customer at the earliest possible date.
Contract Compliance is not required as this refund is necessary to our customer to whom we have agreed to provide water services.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no budgetary impact because we are returning a portion of funds the customer paid. Revenues are not significantly impacted by this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to reimburse Prologis Trust for over-payment of water and sewer fees, to authorize a revenue reduction transaction of $25,897.24 and to declare an emergency. ($25,897.24)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities recommends reimbursement to Prologis Trust for over-payment of water and sewer fees, and
WHEREAS, the overpayment was due to the September 18, 2007 fire meter reading that was misread by our meter reader and entered incorrectly in the billing system causing the customer to be over billed during this time frame. The correct meter reading should have been 01295 not 12954. The customer paid the bill on October 16, 2007 for $25,266.23. On January 16, 2008, a meter reading employee verified the company's meter reading and discovered that this error occurred on September 18, 2007. A customer service representative issued a correction in the billing system resulting in the current credit showing on the account. The customer had already paid their most recent bill of $8,021.31 which was received on January 15, 2008. The total refund to the customer is $25,897.24, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to reimburse Prologis Trust for over-payment of water and sewer fees, in an emergency manner in order to reimburse them at the earliest possible date, for the immediate preservation of public health, peace, property and safety; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to reimburse Prologis Trust over-payment of water and sewer fees.
Section 2. That a revenue reduction transaction in the total amount of $25,897.24 or as much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized from:
Water Operating Fund 600, Dept. 60-09, $25,897.24
Section 3. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.