City of Sterling Heights — Local services in Sterling Heights

When receiving a $ 1,215.21 water bill on Jun 13, we immediately checked the whole water system and did not find any leak. This is also confirmed by 0 GPM (Gallon per Min.) on the meter for both June 13, 2023 and July 7, 2023 (attachment 1). From Apr. 25, 2022 after the change of meter register until June 13, 2023, we also did not experience any leakage.

As per City invoice, we used 127 CCF (12700 Cubic Feet) during Apr. 13 2023 and May 10, 2023. When tracing back four years to June 24, 2019, the highest usage of the month was only 18 CCF (1800 Cubic Feet).

On June 13, I visited City Treasure. Ms. Maureen Proudfoot terminated my automatic payment in City website and send the information to City Water Division,

In early July, we received water bill with total current charge $74.32 and previous balance $1,215.21. I called Ms. Proudfoot who told me to pay $74.32 manually in City website.

On July 7, 2023 Water Division Mr. Keaton Lueck visited us. He told us they changed meter register (Series No. 3338 0816) on Apr. 25, 2022. He then changed the meter register to a new one (Series No. 3743 0722) on the same day. I requested Mr. Lueck that the meter register (Series No. 3338 0816) should be well kept. Do not do any adjustment which may change the accuracy of the register. Do not change the firmware or setting of the register.

On July 12, we prepared a letter with all the evidences and I personally sent to the city. Ms. Maureen Proudfoot signed the letter to confirm the receiving. When running a copy for me as a confirmed receipt of the letter, her supervisor Ms. Sharon Wennerstrom showed up very rudely and told me that they do not want to give me the signed copy to confirm receipt of the letter. On July 14, I sent the letter to Ms. Maureen Proudfoot by email. On July 21, I received a fax from Ms. Judy McHale (City Clerk Coordinator) that they will respond by Aug. 4. On Aug. 1, I received another fax from Ms. Judy McHale who said they can only answer 1 of 8 questions that I raised in the letter.

In early Aug. we received another water bill with previous balance $1,219.68. I called Ms. Proudfoot and left voice mail on the increase of previous balance. Later I received an email from her supervisor, Ms. Sharon Wennerstrom who told me that she applied the late fee to the disputed balance.

On Aug. 2, I sent an email to Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor to seek his help for the following un-answered questions. Water Meter Product Sheet (Neptune T-10-Meter-product-sheet) in City Website shows the water meter is NTEP (National Type Evaluation Program) certified (Attachment 2-2). However, the water meter installed by the city is not NTEP certified (attachment 3). NTEP certified water meter should have a NTEP marking on the water meter like the attachment 4 to ensure that the water meter meets American AWWA Standard in terms of accuracy and repeatability. Please explain why the NTEP Certified water meter was not used. Provide the calibration data of the register prior to installing to our site on Apr. 25, 2022 with the print name and signature of the person who did the calibration. Provide the accuracy data (as per American AWWA Standard) of the water meter register after removing from our site on July 7, 2023 with the print name and signature of the person who does the test. Keep the water meter register properly. Do not do any adjustment which may change the accuracy of the register. Do not change the firmware or setting of the register. Provide the reasons why City changed the water meter register on ARP. 25 2022 and July 7 2023. The meter register (Series No. 3338 0816) cannot send the data out since Apr. 25, 2022 until May 9, 2023. This is not in line with City Water Meter Replacement Program Phase 2 “Replacement of water meter designed to work with the exterior mounted read device”.

It’s been 27 days since I personally delivered the letter to Sterling Heights City on Jul. 12 and I did not receive any response on the above questions. I would appreciate it very much if anyone can help getting City to...

If you have received an alert or letter notice regarding excessive water usage, do NOT believe their reason is your sprinkler system. I have been dealing with the city for 5 months - city said my sprinklers used over 15 gallons of water in 3 days (I live in a condo with 3 sprinkler zones running Monday. Wednesday and Saturdays. My sprinklers were NOT active till 6/5/24 proof from HOA sprinkler contractor.. Graphs I have also show hourly usage 31 hours over 3 days. Common sense. 5/19-5/22 3 days over usage. The city actually thinks that my husband and I sat and watched sprinklers run for 31 hours. We went on vacation in April. turned water off. 4/11 1500 gallons. All these instances areas indication of malfunction or false readings from the meter. My neither had the same problem - 6/16 from 6 pm-6 am 5000 gallons. He had turned his sprinkler system off manually because of frequent rain. Seems from 5/1-10/1 they blame sprinklers. I imagine 10/1-5/1 they blame over usage on running toilets. I have yet to have a sit down meeting with water billing and DPW. Avoiding me. I'm not 100% sure its not my sprinklers. I'm 1000% sure. Facts in black and white. Jim Nichols, DPW didn't respond to one of my numbers emails and has no intent to solve my issue. Had meeting with mayor - DEAD meeting. was texting and didn't ask ONE fact regarding my issue. They all have DEAF ears. Please, if you have had excessive water usage, please investigate. Do NOT settle for the blame on sprinklers. Pursue your intuition. Our water meter was replaced 7/5/24 no...

This is the worst city ever to live in! I pay over 3500$ in taxes and I get one garbage can and u can only put out four large items out for garage pick up! So don't clean out your garage or basement because the garbage trucks won't take it! They told me that I only pay for a week worth of house hold garbage. They also told me if I have more than four large items to rent a u haul and dump it somewhere. What the hell am I paying all these taxes for? I would not recommend living here!!! U call the city office all the workers r rude and won't help u! So if u move here good luck! I'm getting ready to get out...