Nov. 5--After city officials discovered discrepancies in the billing system for sewer services, a scramble occurs while revisions are made.

In the most dramatic instance, the University of Missouri will pay catch-up charges over 10 years to make up for some $500,000 in past undercharges. Less costly errors have occurred in certain apartment houses and shopping centers where a landlord paid a single bill even though several tenants were sewer users.

City Water and Light employee Bill Weitkemper brought the problem forth, but it has taken several years to get reform measures started and a debate still goes on over remaining details. A proposed reform ordinance still has problems, Weitkemper believes, because volume charges favor commercial over residential users and the two should be treated more alike. Others, including Water and Light Director John Glascock, believe the Columbia Mall, for instance, is one user, unlike the owner of an apartment building.

Assessing charges for sewer service is difficult because, unlike electricity and water usage, sewage is not metered. In the past the city has charged for sewers based on a flat charge per water meter plus a volume charge depending whether a user is categorized as residential or commercial.

Ideally, sewer charges would be based solely on volume of wastewater sent into the city system. No such arrangement is possible. Lacking that, the parties are having the right discussion. Glascock thinks commercial properties on average use disproportionately less sewer service than residential, where people live and produce more wastewater, justifying higher charges.

How much higher? Weitkemper wants to close the gap. We outsiders won't have a good opinion about that. That involved officials are having such an active discussion is all we can expect.

HJW III

It's not good for all our wishes to be filled.

Through sickness we recognize the value of health,through evil, the value of good, through hunger,

the value of food; through exertion, the value of rest.

-- GREEK SAYING

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