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M/CLEAR Temp: 75 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Monday, August 4, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 25, 2003 Surprise water district bill irks non-user Woman has the option to buy out of her contract; officials say they’re just following policy By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — When is it fair to charge for a service not provided? That’s the question the Grants Pass Irrigation District and some Rogue River residents are battling over. Erin Funderburg says the GPID is unfairly charging irrigation fees on her newly purchased property on Broadway Street in Rogue River. Funderburg says she was surprised to see the $44 bill from the GPID, especially since she does not receive water from the district. She says her surprise quickly turned to anger once she called the district office and heard there would be a lien placed on her home if she did not pay. Advertisement "I told them if I was going to pay, then I wanted the water. They said they can’t provide me with water. So, even though we don’t get the service, and it is impossible for them to provide the service, they are billing us," said Funderburg. GPID manager Dan Shepard says Funderburg should have known she would incur the fee when she purchased her property about a year ago. "Being in the district has nothing to do with getting water," said Shepard. "If she has a problem, she should take it up with her Realtor." City Administrator Mark Reagles says he paid an annual fee of $120 to the GPID when he lived in the city and also did not receive water. He has since moved. Reagles says his buyout fee to get out of the GPID contract was around $600. "I just paid it (the annual fee)," he said. "It was less of a hassle than going through the buyout process." There are 348 parcels within the city’s urban growth boundary that also are within the GPID. Reagles says some of the owners have bought out of the contract, some are still paying and not receiving water and some are paying and getting GPID water. Shepard says some people pay for water they never see simply to benefit the GPID — which serves 7,600 acres and between 8,000 and 9,000 properties. He also says whether or how much an owner pays GPID has to do with the property’s history and GPID’s charter. "The theory is you (the property) joined the club of GPID at some point so all the properties can have water," said Shepard. "You can’t just bail out of the partnership. The property (owner) made an agreement." Shepard says the process to disconnect from GPID involves paying a buyout fee which is linked to property size and whether water is being provided. He says Funderburg’s fee would probably be about $120 for a non-water buyout. Shepard says the moratorium imposed on buyouts was lifted a few years ago when the courts stepped in and forced water districts to allow customers to buy out of the districts. "The state says we can’t hold people hostage," said Shepard. Nancy Tappan is the GPID board representative for the Rogue River area. Tappan says the GPID is simply following the terms of its charter and protecting the district. Both Tappan and Shepard say the threat of a lien against the property is real — it’s district policy. "I know it seems unfair, but it is the law," said Tappan. "The board is going to review the issue. But there will still be fees because there are costs to the district to cover administrative costs, filing fees and record certification when anyone buys out." Funderburg says it is not the $44 that bothers her so much, it is the principle. She says she wonders how much the GPID makes from services not rendered. "If you start adding up how many other people they’re doing this to, they’re making a lot of money for no service," says Funderburg. As far the buyout fee, she says she was not informed there would be a charge to leave the district. "I was told there would be a form in the mail which I was supposed to fill out, mail back and we would be excluded," she said. Funderburg says she is "disappointed in the ethics of the GPID." "I don’t see how they can see it as anything other than theft. They are charging me for something I never received, asked for, or wanted and they ought to be ashamed of themselves," she said. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times