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 afternoon,
Per the FOIA statute, all FOIA requests must include the requesting person’s complete name.
“15.233 Public records; request requirements; right to inspect, copy, or receive;
subscriptions; forwarding requests; file; inspection and examination; memoranda or
abstracts; rules; compilation, summary, or report of information; creation of new public
record; certified copies.
Sec. 3. (1) Except as expressly provided in section 13, upon providing a public body's FOIA coordinator
with a written request that describes a public record sufficiently to enable the public body to find the public
record, a person has a right to inspect, copy, or receive copies of the requested public record of the public
body. A request from a person, other than an individual who qualifies as indigent under section 4(2)(a), must
include the requesting person's complete name, address, and contact information, and, if the request is made
by a person other than an individual, the complete name, address, and contact information of the person's
agent who is an individual.”
Please revise your request and email it back to my attention.
If a revised request is not received that complies with the requirements of the FOIA statute to include a complete name with the request, a denial will be issued by this office.
Thank you,
Shelly Schloss
Waterford Township FOIA Coordinator
From: Clerk
Good afternoon,
Your request still doesn’t include the full name of the person making the request.
Thank you,
Shelly Schloss
Waterford Township FOIA Coordinator
From: Clerk
Please see attached in response to your FOIA request.
Thank you,
Shelly Schloss
[http://intranet/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wat-logo.jpg]
Shelly Schloss
Senior Executive Assistant to Township Supervisor
Gary Wall
5200 Civic Center Dr
Waterford MI 48329
p. 248-674-6201
f. 248-674-5451
sschloss@waterfordmi.gov<mailto:sschloss@waterfordmi.gov>
www.waterfordmi.gov<www.twp.waterford.mi.us>
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image001
From: PWBC
Dear Ms. Schloss,
Hope you are having a good day.
In response to the person making the request.
Sister Mary Ellen Howard, Interim Board President PWBC.
In Community,
Cass Charrette
From: Clerk
Thank you.
Your previous request was denied.
With this new information, I will begin the process of responding to this a new request received Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 12:32pm by email.
Thank you,
Shelly Schloss
[http://intranet/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wat-logo.jpg]
Shelly Schloss
FOIA Coordinator,
Waterford Township
5200 Civic Center Dr
Waterford MI 48329
p. 248-674-6201
f. 248-674-5451
sschloss@waterfordmi.gov<mailto:sschloss@waterfordmi.gov>
www.waterfordmi.gov<www.twp.waterford.mi.us>
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image001
From: Clerk
Please see attached in response to your recent FOIA request.
Thank you,
Shelly Schloss
[http://intranet/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wat-logo.jpg]
Shelly Schloss
Senior Executive Assistant to Township Supervisor
Gary Wall
5200 Civic Center Dr
Waterford MI 48329
p. 248-674-6201
f. 248-674-5451
sschloss@waterfordmi.gov<mailto:sschloss@waterfordmi.gov>
www.waterfordmi.gov<www.twp.waterford.mi.us>
-
image001
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
Your FOIA request has been received and will be processed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act including use of a 10-day extension to respond due to high volume of current requests.
You will receive a response no later than 12/2/22.
Thank you,
Shelly Schloss
[http://intranet/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wat-logo.jpg]
Shelly Schloss
FOIA Coordinator,
Waterford Township
5200 Civic Center Dr
Waterford MI 48329
p. 248-674-6201
f. 248-674-5451
sschloss@waterfordmi.gov<mailto:sschloss@waterfordmi.gov>
www.waterfordmi.gov<www.twp.waterford.mi.us>
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image001
From: PWBC
Thank you.
From: Clerk
Your FOIA request has been received and will be processed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act including a 10-day extension for response due to an unusual volume of current requests.
You will receive a response no later than 12/2/22.
Thank you,
Shelly Schloss
[http://intranet/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wat-logo.jpg]
Shelly Schloss
FOIA Coordinator,
Waterford Township
5200 Civic Center Dr
Waterford MI 48329
p. 248-674-6201
f. 248-674-5451
sschloss@waterfordmi.gov<mailto:sschloss@waterfordmi.gov>
www.waterfordmi.gov<www.twp.waterford.mi.us>
-
image001
From: Clerk
Good afternoon,
Please see attached in response to your recent FOIA request.
Thank you,
Shelly
[http://intranet/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wat-logo.jpg]
Shelly Schloss
FOIA Coordinator,
Waterford Township
5200 Civic Center Dr
Waterford MI 48329
p. 248-674-6201
f. 248-674-5451
sschloss@waterfordmi.gov<mailto:sschloss@waterfordmi.gov>
www.waterfordmi.gov<www.twp.waterford.mi.us>
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image003
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