PWBC Tri-County FOIA Project: Residential Water Data (Clerk)
Multi Request | PWBC Tri-County FOIA Project: Residential Water Data |
Submitted | March 2, 2022 |
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Communications
From: PWBC
Dear Records Custodian,
This is a request under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (MCL 15.231 et. seq.) for documents that detail how your community’s water system functions, including details on utility terminations, restorations, and rates.
As context for this request, I am requesting these records on behalf of the People’s Water Board Coalition, a non-profit organization that advocates for equitable access, protection, and affordability of utility services, and water conservation. We are filing similar requests for information with many other Michigan water utilities in collaboration with residents, community leaders, and local officials to better support the needs of low-income customers. If any of this information is publicly available and accessible, please send a link to the webpage where it is located. Please reply to this request via email. If you have any question or concern about this request, please call Cass Charrette at 248-980-1191.
When possible, please provide the requested quantitative data in an Excel spreadsheet or other native digital format (such as CSV files).
1. A copy of any data and documents that list the addresses and dates of residential customers that have had their water service terminated starting January 1, 2019 to date of the submission of the FOIA, the reason for the termination, and the amount of arrears for each account. If this data is produced in another format, such as written logs or summary reports, please provide a copy of that instead. If your agency has a policy that home address information is exempt from FOIA, please provide this data at the street level.
2. Any documents describing and listing the addresses and dates of residential customers that have had their water service restored starting January 1, 2019 to date of submission of the FOIA, following a disconnection. If this data is included in the same data set as Item 6, you may provide that full data set in lieu of processing this element separately.
3. A copy of any existing, regularly generated reports that include the total amount of water and wastewater customer arrearages, number of customers in arrears, and median amount of arrearages per customer, and number of customers subject to potential service disconnection due to arrears by customer class (e.g., residential, non-profit, commercial, industrial) starting January 1, 2019 to date of submission of the FOIA.
4. A copy of a list of referrals the utility/water system/municipality sent to the tax assessor to place a tax lien on properties due to non-payment of any water or sewer bill, starting January 1, 2019 to date of submission of the FOIA, and the amount of arrears for each account. If this information is stored in a summary database, you may provide that database.
5. Any documents describing or listing the addresses of residential customer accounts that have been enrolled in and have been discharged from the Great Lakes Water Authority’s Water Residential Assistance Program, and the reason for such removal or discharge, starting January 1, 2019 to date of submission of the FOIA.
As I am requesting these records as a representative of People’s Water Board Coalition, a non-profit organization, and am doing so in the public interest, I request a waiver of fees. The analysis and release of these materials will contribute significantly to public understanding of water affordability issues in the tri-county area.
I will expect a response within 5 business days as provided by law. If my request is denied in whole or in part, I expect a detailed justification for withholding the records. I also request any segregable portions that are not exempt to be disclosed.
If you have any questions or suggestions for reducing the burden of my request, please reach out and we are happy to discuss.
Sincerely,
People’s Water Board Coalition
From: Clerk
Good morning,
I am in receipt of your FOIA request. Per the FOIA Act here in the State of Michigan, I do have the legal right to request a deposit before work can begin on your request. At this time I am requesting a deposit of $100.00, made payable to the Village of Romeo, be received before researching your request.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact me.
Thank you,
Kathryn Trapp
From: PWBC
Good afternoon, Ms. Trapp.
I am in receipt of your request for a deposit of $100 to be paid before proceeding with the FOIA research and am prepared to pay it.
However, I need an estimate of:
a) how much the total work will likely cost;
b) with the deposit alone, how much research can be accomplished and what data can be provided from it.
As a small community-based, non-profit organization working for the benefit of low-income residents, we are working with a very small budget and ask for any assistance you can offer with that in mind.
Thanks very much,
Sylvia Orduño
PWBC
From: Clerk
Good morning,
Your FOIA request is a lengthy one. It would involve and multiple departments to address all of your concerns. Also, due involvement of multiple departments it is difficult to determine the amount of hours involved at this time. The hourly rate for Labor is $16.00, and .25 cents per page, either copied on paper or delivered electronically.
Thank you,
Kathryn Trapp
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~WRD0000
From: PWBC
Dear Ms. Trapp,
Thanks very much for your reply. I apologize for the late response. We have restarted this FOIA project and I will follow up with the fee immediately after this.
We look forward to learning what you discover with this deposit for work to begin, including current data as of this date.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Orduño
People's Water Board Coalition
From: PWBC
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find enclosed a check for $100.00 to satisfy the fee associated with the attached public records request.
Thank you.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Michigan Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 4, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Clerk
I will begin your FOIA request when I am in receipt of your deposit.
Thank you,
Kathryn Trapp
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~WRD3421
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Michigan Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 4, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Clerk
Good morning,
Please find attached the reports you have requested per your FOIA request.
Please advise if you have any further questions.
Thank you,
Kathryn Trapp
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~WRD0001
From: PWBC
Dear Records Custodian,
This is a request under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (MCL 15.231 et. seq.) for documents that detail how your community’s water system functions, including details on collection practices and rates.
As context for this request, I am requesting these records on behalf of the People’s Water Board Coalition, a non-profit organization that advocates for equitable access, protection, and affordability of utility services, and water conservation. We are filing similar requests for information with many other Michigan water utilities in collaboration with residents, community leaders, and local officials to better support the needs of low-income customers. If any of this information is publicly available and accessible, please send a link to the webpage where it is located. Please reply to this request via email. If you have any question or concern about this request, please call Cass Charrette at 248-980-1191.
When possible, please provide the requested quantitative data in an Excel spreadsheet or other native digital format (such as CSV files).
(1) Collection Practices: Any documents describing policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding:
a. Water arrearages, and
b. Shutoffs,
c. Liens, including temporary policies and procedures for customers of the utility/water system/municipality (i.e., delinquency amount that triggers water service shut-off notice and lien, seasonal and short-term and temporary suspensions of disconnections).
d. Please include these policies covering both:
- residential customers and
- non-residential customers.
2. Customer Charges: The most current documents describing:
a. Rates, charges, and user fees for
- water,
- wastewater and
- stormwater service for the utility/water system/municipality,
b. Definitions of customer category distinctions for water, wastewater and stormwater service:
- Residential (single-family vs. multi-family),
- Nonresidential (e.g, commercial, industrial, Nonprofit)
c. Any written procedures the process used for:
- approving new rates,
- the legal authority for approving the rates.
- what stakeholder is the advisory decision maker for the city related to water customer rates and charges
3. Water Assistance Programs, Affordability Programs, and/or Payment Plans: Any documents describing:
a. Water service affordability or assistance programs offered by the utility/water system/municipality and communicated to residential customers of the utility/water system/municipality
- Describe the benefit level
- Eligibility criteria
- Enrollment process
- Funding source
- Program cost
b. Names of any other state, county and local assistance programs the utility/water system/municipality refers to its customers:
- State assistance programs,
- County assistance programs, and
- Local assistance programs
c. Information about how assistance or affordability programs are communicated or markets to residential customers:
- Where it is marketed; and
- How it is marketed to customers;
d. Outreach materials:
- Template letters used for such outreach or marketing
- Pamphlets
- Phone scripts, and
- Other materials distributed to residents inquiring about assistance.
e. Enrollment and utilization statistics
- Customers enrolled in calendar year
- Payment amount
f. Payment plan information
- Details of program - term
- Enrollment
4. Federal Funding: Any documents, including budgets, describing the use of ARPA and other federal relief funds for
a. water arrearages,
b. lead service line replacements, and
c. other water programs.
5. Customer Service Issues. Any documents, policies and procedures describing
a. Customer service or billing dispute processes (e.g., how can a customer dispute a bill or payment plan denial?), and
b. Appeals process for billing decisions.
As I am requesting these records as a representative of People’s Water Board Coalition, a non-profit organization, and am doing so in the public interest, I request a waiver of fees. The analysis and release of these materials will contribute significantly to public understanding of water affordability issues in the tri-county area.
I will expect a response within 5 business days as provided by law. If my request is denied in whole or in part, I expect a detailed justification for withholding the records. I also request any segregable portions that are not exempt to be disclosed.
If you have any questions or suggestions for reducing the burden of my request, please reach out and we are happy to discuss.
Sincerely,
People's Water Board Coalition
From: Clerk
This FOIA request has been fulfilled and was sent over to you.
Thank you,
Kathryn Trpp
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~WRD0000
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