WMVO Good Times Great Oldies
What appeared to be a routine Fredericktown Village Council meeting Monday night quickly shifted focus after two residents raised concerns about dramatic increases in their monthly water bills, prompting village officials to launch an investigation.
During the public comment portion of the meeting on July 20, two neighbors who live on Salem Avenue addressed council one after the other, each describing unexplained increases in their water bills over the past several months.
One resident said her monthly bill jumped from approximately $100 to nearly $230 despite no significant change in water usage.
Her neighbor reported an even steeper increase, telling council his monthly bills climbed from about $100 to more than $200, then over $400, before reaching $999 over a four-month period. He also said his household’s water use had not increased enough to justify the escalating charges.
The reports drew immediate attention from village officials.
Village Administrator Bruce Snell told both residents the village would begin investigating the issue Tuesday by inspecting water meters at each property. Officials plan to determine whether the unusually high bills are the result of underground leaks, faulty meters or another issue within the system.
Mayor Jerry Day also assured the residents that the village would work to identify the source of the problem.
No other residents reported similar concerns during Monday’s meeting, and council did not indicate whether officials have identified any broader issues within the village’s water system.
In other business, a resident announced plans for a community car show on Aug. 16 near Merrin and Levering Parks by the Fredericktown Community Library. Organizers expect between 200 and 300 vehicles to participate in the event.
Village officials are expected to provide updates on the water bill investigation once inspections are complete.
