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The Ocean Shores way? (Or the highway?)
Forwarded email from someone who just wants water service turned off:
just called to schedule a “turn off” of the water at my house. Simple request…so I thought. I was told that I could have the meter removed for $41.00 (who wants to buy a house with no water meter?); or I will continue to be billed for the base amounts (water, sewer, storm, ambulance).
Think about it.
1. You move into a house
2. You turn the utilities on
3. You pay while you’re there
4. You intend to move so you schedule a date to turn the utilities off
5. You move, and the utilities are off until the next occupant moves in and turns them on
It works that way with electricity (not provided by Ocean Shores). It works that way with the garbage (not provided by Ocean Shores). It works that way in every city I’ve ever lived in.
I was told by Matt Tobert at the utility dept. that what usually happens is…new buyers pay at escrow for whatever the seller didn’t pay. One more time…new buyers pay at escrow for whatever the seller didn’t pay. Just in case you don’t believe I said that, here it is again. New buyers pay at escrow for whatever the seller didn’t pay!!!
I wanted to turn the water off at a vacant lot. I was told that I must pay for six months water service after shutoff.
The water should be shut off every time you leave your home for an extended period of time, especially over winter. There is a valve in the box for you to do this on your side of the meter. The valve on the city side must be open and closed with a special tool.
The city is totally wrong on this. Please refer to the RCW 60.80 chapter to read the responsibilities. I tried to take the city to small claims court on this,for property I bought from the city. I found out the hard way, that in order to enforce the RCW’s, you have to go to superior court, and the filing fee is over $500. Then you must possess the necessary skills to file the required claim and dispositions, or you will have to hire an attorney to do it for you. The city knows you won’t go through the trouble, so it’s called GOTCHA!
How hard is it to turn off the water? How hard is it to turn it back on? Well the second part is simple. Turn the valve. So, someone still has to look at the meter to make sure someone is not stealing water. Without a meter there is no chance of water passing to the house. So, that is the bottom line. As to the rest of the comments about Sewer,Storm Drain, Ambulance etc., those will be paid anyway. Those services still exist. In fact, Ambulance comes in the Property Tax. Storm Drain is paid by all Land, house or no house. Sewer is still connected. Maybe this person should just take the house away too! That way there would be no risk of fire! I am sure they are still paying insurance on the house. The escrow payment is for the billing period before and after the close of escrow. That is the only thing divided between the current owner and new owner. It is not the past due bill up to the closing date.
Maybe I read this wrong, but I thought that the owner requested that his water be turned off…not the meter removed.
Why would a service disconnect be free? It costs the rest of us to send someone out to do the work and its costs the rest of us to send a bill. NO free lunch !
Wow! What a shock! I am SO surprised! Can’t believe it! Whoever thought that THIS city could work THAT way?