Council discusses weeds, missing waters

by Nathan Arneal
published 8/12/09

The case of the missing water remains unsolved.

Bill Lambrecht, owner of a four-plex of apartments in southeast North Bend, attended the Aug. 4 North Bend City Council meeting to discuss 92,000 gallons of water that mysteriously registered on the water meter of one of his apartments. The apartment was empty during the six month period the water was supposedly used.

Both Lambrecht and the city water meter reader agreed that the meter works properly because it gives normal readings when the apartment is occupied.

“Ninety-two thousand gallons over a six month period does not make any sense whatsoever,” Lambrecht said. “There’s no place for it to be going.”

Mayor Karan Legler said the city would probably end up eating the bill.

“I have no idea how we can rectify this,” she said. “I personally don’t understand, since you said there was no water (standing or leaking) any place, where that 92,000 gallons went. I’m at a loss. Is it gremlins?”

When a meter is inactive, it does not show up on the meter reader’s route sheet, so it is not checked until the resident asks to have the water turned back on. Councilman Kevin Ferguson suggested that next time this particular unit is vacant that the city still include it on the route sheet to see what is happening.

Carry Gerke then addressed the Council regarding a letter she received from the city asking her to cut or mow some of the weeds in her yard. A city ordinance dictates that weeds must be kept below 12 inches.
Gerke said she had a list of 22 other homes in her neighborhood that violate the ordinance, yet they did not receive letters.

“If one person gets singled out, then it needs to be fair,” Gerke said.

Legler told Gerke that the city does not send out a letter unless it receives a complaint. Councilmember Lisa Voss further explained the process.

“We don’t act on anything unless we get a complaint,” Voss said. “If there was a complaint against you and not your neighbor, you’re going to get the letter because we have no idea about your neighbor.”

Legler asked Gerke if she wanted to turn in her list of the 22 homes in violation, but Gerke declined, saying turning in more violators was not her intention.

When asked, Legler said the city does not reveal the names of people registering complaints because the city does not want to see hard feelings between neighbors.

“I’d rather have you mad at me,” Legler said. “I’ll take the brunt of it, I don’t care. But I’m not going to let it become a vendetta against someone else. It was me complaining as far as you know.”

After the discussion, Gerke said she felt better and had a more complete understanding of the process.

In other council business:
• Legler suggested that the city take care of a crack in the pool as soon as the pool closes for the season. She said she was concerned that it could get worse over the winter and prevent the pool from opening next summer.
• Legler announced that the Aug. 18 city council meeting will be her last as mayor of North Bend. She has bought a home in Morse Bluff and will be moving there soon.

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