-
.
.
It took a few months to get an answer, but a customer complaining of a $7,200 water bill has now received some relief from the Silsbee City Council – and all city residents will now benefit from the water-logged complainant’s efforts.
Dean Robinson has been a regular visitor to Silsbee City Council meetings, first attending after a Feb. 27 water bill from the city for $7,240.43, due to 1.4 million gallons of water being released due to a broken water pipe. Robinson, the owner of the Neches Bell Antique Mall and Market, north of Silsbee, requested an answer regarding an adjustment to his surprisingly high city water bill at the April and May council meeting; elected officials tabled the matter both months.
June 3 was different. When Silsbee City Council again addressed Robinson’s request, the group voted to approve a Water Leak Adjustment Policy that allows customers a 35% discount one time every 12 months in the case of busted water pipes or other incidents.
According to the new policy, approved by a 5-1 vote, a hidden water leak, beyond the customer’s control, may qualify for a leak adjustment if the customer provides a copy of the repair receipt or other proof that the repair was performed. An account may not qualify for a leak adjustment if, during the high water use period, the customer filled a swimming pool or established new landscape (sod, trees, shrubs, etc.).
City Attorney Solomon Freimuth said giving Robinson the 35% discount would make his bill about $4,700. The city attorney added that the policy will now allow a customer to not have to appear before the council, and that the Public Works Department or billing clerks have the ability to adjust the bill if the customer has proof the leak was repaired.
Robinson, who served as mayor of Silsbee for three terms (1997-2003), stated his average monthly water bill is $27.37 for 1,000 gallons of usage. He noted his water meter is located at 4605 Old Evadale Highway and the old seven-and-one-half-acre homestead had services at the back of the property when it was acquired at the end of 2015.
According to Robinson, they renovated the old feed store and added on for the Neches Belle Antique Mall, which opened in August 2018. He added that they had to install 800 feet of water and gas lines for the business.
Robinson noted his water meter was read near the end of December 2023 and, on Jan. 29, received a call that his water meter was underwater.
“I confirmed the ditch was full and called the plumber. He turned off the water and found the main break about 25 feet into my property from the meter,” Robinson shared, adding that the plumber also informed him that a pine tree root had ripped through the 2-inch water pipe. “I experienced no loss of water pressure and the main leak was not visible from the road. The leak was repaired in a day.”