OPINION: Pay for not using city water? This doesn't make any sense

Imagine this:

I walk into a hardware store in the city of Libby. I don’t find anything I want, so I start to leave the store. A clerk stops me at the door and hands me a sheet of paper. It is a bill for not purchasing anything. I look at him in disbelief and bewilderment, and ask, “what is this?” He says that since I didn’t purchase anything, this bill for $75 is to help them pay down their debt-load. I am just shocked and spellbound.

Hard to imagine? Do you think that there’s no place in the USA where this could happen?

You are wrong. It can happen.

When I got home, waiting for me in the mail, was a water bill from the city of Libby for the month of February 2016. Sure as shooting, I was billed $75 for zero usage. This bill was on a vacant house in the Libby city limits, waiting to be sold.

I took this water bill and marched right down to City Hall. I asked, “Don’t you think that this is a little ridiculous and unreasonable?” Their response was “Too bad.” You have to pay the $75 for zero usage to help pay the city’s debt on their water and sewer improvements. I asked if I could just have the city shut off the water to this residence. No, sir, not this city. Besides, you would still have to pay the base charge of $45.25 for water and $30.63 for sewer every month.

If I do not want a water bill, I would have to hire a licensed plumber and contractor to dig up our yard and water line on our property’s side of the city’s water shutoff, then have it capped off and inspected by the city before it can be covered up. Can you imagine what that would cost? Sometime in the future, when the new owner wants to reconnect to the city water system, it will all have to be dug up and reconnected.

This is all just a bullying tactic to keep you connected to the city water system. The city could very easily just shut off the water at their shutoff, for $50.

I discussed this with both city utility billing clerks, the city clerk, the city manager, and the city mayor. Same answer. I have now filed a complaint with the Public Service Commission in Helena. I will see what happens.

Of course, I can afford to pay this water bill and I understand the city’s dilemma; however, I lived in this house for 25 years. All this time, paying their outrageous water and sewer rates. I think I have probably paid my fair share of their debt-load. I just want out. IT IS THE PRINCIPAL OF IT ALL. Paying $75 for nothing! This all seems to be extremely unfair, unreasonable and very dictatorial.

I am telling my story in an effort to help the people of Libby fight city hall. We have put up with their unjust and unrighteous water billing and bullying tactics for long enough. I think that it is time we stop the exercising of their power in such an abusive and oppressive manner. I thing that it is time to start a letter writing campaign and, if necessary, a “class action” suit.

If you are interested in helping to resolve this situation; if you can offer some reasonable suggestions or workable solutions; if you think that you have been mistreated and buffaloed long enough, call me at 293-9359. Especially if you have found yourself in the same category as me, charged $75 for zero usage. We need to band together.

Stroklund is a resident of Libby.