LaHARPE — Mignonette Kelley knew she had a water leak.
But was there any way for her to have a quarter of a million gallons of water leak onto her property without a drop to be found?
That was the question posed to LaHarpe City Council members Wednesday, who discussed Kelley’s subsequent $800 water bill.
The ordeal began in July, when a meter reader discovered the apparent water leak; more than 240,000 gallons of water had passed through her meter and escaped somewhere onto her property.
Problem was, there was never any evidence of a water leak, such as flooded ditches, sink holes, even a mud puddle.
“We dug into the ground and it was completely dry,” Kelley said.
For comparison’s sake, 240,000 gallons is more than three times the amount of water that can be held in LaHarpe’s water storage tank (75,000 gallons.)
Despite the meter reading, Kelley doesn’t think that much flowed through.
“If so, where was it?” she asked.”
Council member Gerald Clay, a neighbor of Kelley’s, agreed.
“I couldn’t find any water, either,” he said.
Kelley already has paid $400 for the leak, not counting the price to install a water line. Water service to her house on the south edge of LaHarpe was turned off almost as soon as the leak was detected until the new lines could be installed.
But even then, when crews dug into the ground for the new line, there was no water, Kelley said.
Council members said they would look further into the matter to determine if Kelley could charged only the city’s cost of the water. They weren’t sure how much the city was charged, versus how much retail customers like Kelley would have been charged.
“I think she’s paid enough,” Clay said.
COUNCILMEN accepted the resignation of Brian Crites, LaHarpe’s police chief, and announced they would seek a replacement.
Crites cited the city’s unwillingness to make him a full-time officer.
Council members voted 4-1, Clay opposed, to advertise for a replacement law enforcement, code enforcement and animal control officer. Clay indicated his desire to see the position made full time.
