The Metropolitan Council approved a billing dispute process that incorporates into procedure a means to resolve potential disputes with communities. Disputes have include questions on meter accuracy and results of measures taken to reduce inflow and infiltration (I/I). We devised this process to assure a fair, uniform, and timely method for customer communities to contest flows and the related billings, while maintaining the integrity of the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) revenue system.
Steps in the process
- Negotiations around technical agreements: MCES will offer internal and external technical expertise to facilitate consensus building.
- Third party neutral mediation: MCES will offer mediation using a mutually agreed upon and jointly paid mediator.
- Binding arbitration: If a community and the Met Council agree, binding arbitration will be used to settle a dispute.
Legal notes
- In order to preserve the full rights to contest any bill, the city or township must file a written complaint with the MCES Finance Director within 60 days of the MCES billing.
- The Met Council shall limit reimbursements or billings for prior periods to no more than six years from the latter of the date of the formal complaint or the date at which an audit uncovers the issue.
- If a community refuses to participate in this process in good faith, or refuses to pay, Met Council staff may certify a deficiency tax levy (Minn. Statutes, section 473.521 (4)) to collect the funds.
Questions?
Contact Ned Smith, MCES Finance Director, at 651-602-1162 or via email at [email protected].