By Paula Johnson - email
PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH (WTOL) - Their water bills have skyrocketed and they want to know why.
Residents of Friendly Village Mobile Home Park got few answers and definitely not what they were hoping to hear. Now those who live in the park say they may have to look to a lawyer for help.
Residents are pointing to a new utility company out of Michigan and the owners of the mobile home park, Choice Properties.
"When they first came, said it was only gonna be $30 or $40 dollars. I just got a bill of $219. Not fair," said Gregory Tietje, a resident of Friendly Village.
"Now we're being charged $360 more a year for water and sewage," said David, one of Tietje's neighbors.
This meeting with a 'universal utility' rep and a Choice Property rep was supposed to provide a few answers, but residents say it wasn't enough.
"My bill don't go from $40 up to $100. I've been cutting back on water and everything. I don't know how they're justifying this," Brenda Wingard said, a concerned resident.
Choice properties admitted they've been overcharging water bills about five dollars, but also said they've been under charging water sewer rates for several years now.
Residents say the utility is charging them fees that are just out of hand.
"I'm not going to accept it far as I'm concerned. University Utilities can come get the meter and I'll drink my bottled water and take my laundry to the laundromat," David said.
Local leaders are planning more meetings to work all this out.
"There's more work to do. There are some charges and fees that are unrealistic, unnecessary. I do't say that very often about a company," Randy Gardner State Rep. 6th District.
Residents say the answer is to get organized and get a third party involved.
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