Councillors want city department’s explanation for homeowner’s massive water bill

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This article was published 06/09/2018 (2941 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City councillors are just as curious as a Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench judge as to how an aspiring house-flipper ended up with a $27,000 water bill.

Councillors on the environment committee Thursday requested a seminar from the water and waste department to explain how Azhar Mubeen ended up with a water bill for $27,246.99 on a St. Vital home that had its water shut off six months before he bought it.

Coun. Brian Mayes, chairman of the committee, said the findings of the provincial Ombudsman’s investigation into the matter should prompt both elected and administration officials to take another look at the situation.

“In my seven years here I don’t remember anything like this,” Mayes (St. Vital) said.

Mubeen has asked the court to order city hall to reimburse him the amount he paid on the water bill, which was necessary before he could resell the property after having demolished the original home and constructed a new one on the site.

Justice Vic Toews said last month he was puzzled by the case and ordered both sides to try and resolve the matter before it goes back to court Sept. 19.

“There’s something odd about this case,” Toews said on Aug. 29.

When Mubeen was unable to convince city officials to waive the water bill, he filed a complaint with the provincial Ombudsman, which issued a report in early August and concluded city hall had acted unfairly.

The Ombudsman found the city was following its policy when it issued the bill but said it should have used its discretion to adjust the bill and establish a new policy for similar situations.

City hall has rejected the Ombudsman’s recommendation and wants Toews to throw out the case.

Mayes said city staff need to explain why the Ombudsman’s advice has been rejected.

“I don’t know what avenues were explored (by the department),” he said. “Elected officials should get a briefing from staff…. I intend to ask a lot of questions and I’m glad that we, as elected officials, will have a chance to work this through.”

Mayes said it’s possible that council could order that Mubeen be refunded the money he paid, but added he wants to hear first from the administration.

Mubeen said he was pleased with the committee’s intervention.

“That sounds good,” he told the Free Press, adding no one should have to be placed in a similar situation.

Mayes said he doesn’t know when the department will brief council on the matter, but he hopes the CAO’s office schedules the meeting before the Oct. 24 civic election.

“We, as the elected people, haven’t reviewed this yet. I want to review it,” Mayes said.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca