back-bills R'ville $10,000

Russellville Mayor Shirlee Yassney informed the city council Tuesday night that the city has received a letter from Logan Todd Regional Water Commission (LTRWC) saying the city owes approximately $10,000 for water that was not calibrated until recently.

According to City Attorney Bob Hedges, who also serves on the LTRWC, the utility only calibrates the meters every three years and can go back and charge for six months of water usage that may not have been billed.

Yassney was most concerned about what this would mean in terms of monthly charges to the city. She asked Hedges if this would mean that the city's monthly bill would go up now that they have found where there was a difference. Hedges said, “Yes, this will be an additional hit on the city's water and sewer.”

The council decided to table the issue until its April meeting where LTRWC representatives could come explain the issue in further detail.

Mayor Yassney told the council that they needed to slow down on the spending. She referred to the many projects the council is trying to achieve. Although she commended them and their attempts to make great strides for the city, she also reminded them that unless the money is there they shouldn't proceed with spending it.

Yassney said the project of placing a water tower on top on Hospital Hill will have to be put on hold, considering the city was not approved for the grant which was to pay for the project. She said that she had been informed that the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) had not even applied for the CDBG grant that would have to go hand-in-hand with the water tower grant to pull off the project. “If you don't have the CDBG, then there is no reason for the water tower,” said Yassney.

Councilman Gene Zick was very disappointed in hearing that BRADD did not apply for the grant. “That is asinine. There is something wrong up there,” said Zick, who has been diligently trying along with his fellow council members to get the funds to sewer Johnson Street, while allowing for additional economic growth and supplying better pressure for customers on Hospital Hill.