" I'm all too familiar with the problems that the city says are beyond control. About three years ago, our (new meter) reading was supposedly "mixed up" with our neighbor's (new meter) reading. The city unilaterally decided the solution was to simply switch billings. The only problem was that the extra amount we were required to pay ($122.15) was three times our normal billing. The city absolutely refused to admit that the problem involved more than a simple "mix up" of readings. The city absolutely refused to acknowledge that the problem might have been the result of equipment malfunction, or mistakes made by city employees who installed the meters.

We were stonewalled and bounced from one official to another until City Attorney Preston Owen finally sent us a threatening letter promising to shut off our water and charge a $50 reconnection fee if we continued to protest their handling of the situation. We had no choice; we paid the bill. There was no recourse. The funny thing is, since that time, our water bill averages just over $41 a month - about the same consumption as it had been for years BEFORE the new meters were installed. I suggested three years ago that someone may have failed to reset the meter to Zero the day it was installed? But, oh no, the city couldnt have made THAT simple mistake! It's a shame that Public Works Directors and City Attorneys don't have to run for re-election; but the good news is - their so-called bosses do. "

" Tom, Several times I have not agreed with your opinions but this time I do. The City, that is the City Attorney and the Public works Director, very seldom have anything but contempt for the regular citizen. If you lived in Crestview or on Country Club Road things would have be handled differently. Since both these "officials" have well padded contracts they do not care what people think. Their salary and raises are all ready set in stone. With the City cutting services these two employees are scheduled to get very nice raises. The fact that they ignored a potential problem with the radio-read meters just shows how little they care about those who pay their salaries.
The main reason they like radio-read meters is the reduction of employees. It does not matter if the meters are inaccurate of if problems arise. They allow the City to reduce employees which is the main goal.
If we allow the current Council to remain in office for another term we will be stuck with Mr. Owen and Mr. Wortman and their high-handed style for another four years.
If enough of us voice our displeasure with the way things are handled and we keep the public informed maybe we can send this bunch packing at the next election. "

" Tom and Grumpy both make some very valid points. Politically appointed bureaucratic hacks all too often act like those two do in Mattoon. Wortman stated that he was a political junkie a while back, and if that's the case, he should be seeing the writing on the wall. I would guess that both Wortman and Owens are going to be looking for work after this current bunch of elected officials are out. If they think their comfy jobs are secure they should just remember what this bunch did to Mr Burrell a few years back.

I suspect there are a lot of people who have had similar experiences at Mattoon city hall, such as the one Tom described.

It's time for a clean sweep at Mattoon city hall. "

" Your experience Tom, is hardly an exception- it's the norm. In my neighborhood and surrounding areas, mis-read meters are the rule. It becomes most evident when people go on vacation for a couple of weeks (or longer) only to find that their next water bill is remarkably similar if not higher than the previous months. The water dept's explanation- we just averaged it out for that month, or- "uhm....check your toilet.....you have a leak somewhere in your system.....yeah that's it....a leak....." And do they ever budge on the "mysterious anomaly"? -nah. You either pay up or they shut ya down. Period. Case closed.
You see Tom- our local bureaucrats learned a valuable lesson a few years ago from the school board: They can pretty much do whatever the he11 they want- "so wadda you gonna do about it pal....... ?" "

" By the way soon Ameren Elec. and Gas will go to radio readers to reduce costs. And by the way they arent going to pass the savings on to us. Just like our water and sewer bills only go up when the city is cutting costs. So the get more revenues both ways billing more and and cutting costs. "