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His water shut off over past-due bills, homeowner makes best of rainy days
Girard officials said they are willing to work with the man in restoring the service.
LIBERTY — Some have said when it rains, it pours, and township resident Victor Rice is learning to appreciate the downpour.
Rice is glad for the rainy days because for the last two weeks, he has been collecting that rainwater to use for cleaning and bathroom purposes around his Santa Monica Drive home.
Rice, a 56-year-old disabled veteran, has had a long-standing feud with the city of Girard over water bills and the cost of water service from the city. He sued the city last year, contending his bills were too high, but a magistrate in Girard Municipal Court ruled in favor of the city and ordered Rice to pay the bill as issued.
The city of Girard shut off the water to the home earlier this month for nonpayment.
Girard City Council recently asked city administration to reduce a more than $400,000 deficit in the city’s water fund and passed legislation to help with the collection of past-due bills.
Safety Service Director Jerry Lambert said the city is not picking on Rice. He said the city has to treat the situation involving Rice the same as with any other water customer.
According to Lambert, Rice has a $1,300 water bill and has made combined payments of only $85 since last July. There is an additional $400 in sewage fees owed to Trumbull County.
“We have been addressing this and held off as long as we could, but we just can’t let this go on forever,” said Lambert.
Lambert said the readings at the home have been accurate. He said the home uses water in the heating process, and that may contribute the amount of water being used.
Rice is convinced that the city has been overcharging him for water and said the sewer fees, which go to Trumbull County, are too high. He feels the entire situation is a conspiracy on him and others who have yet to come forward.
Now, Rice, who has degenerative-joint disease along with post-traumatic-stress disorder, anxiety disorder and diabetes, borrows drinking water from neighbors and collects rainwater in buckets at the rear of his home.
“I have herniated discs in my back, and lifting these buckets has really got me in pain,” said Rice. “You are using [your neighbor’s] water, and at a point you just get embarrassed to ask.”
Rice said Veterans Affairs has been in touch with the city on his behalf, and he is hoping they can help in the matter.
Lambert said he has indeed spoken with a representative from Veterans Affairs, and the city is willing to work with Rice in paying the bill. He said Rice, in order to restore service, must pay 25 percent of the $1,300 owed. He would then pay the rest over the next year at $110 every other month plus his regular bill. The city has nothing to do with sewer charges.
Rice said he is on a fixed income of less than $1,500 a month and cannot afford the arrangement. He also is convinced that he does not owe the money in the first place.
“There is no way I have used that much water. I would be swimming in it,” he said.
Rice said he has nowhere else to go and has no plans on leaving the house.
“There is nothing I can do. What can I do? I have sued and didn’t get a penny back. They threw it out,” he said. “This is my home, and I am being scapegoated. I sued them, and that has a lot to do with these outrageous bills.”
Mayor James Melfi said the bills issued to Rice have been fair, and the city is not using Rice as a scapegoat or being vengeful for any reason.
“We have to follow the same procedures with Mr. Rice as everyone else. You cannot pay $15 on a $1,300 bill,” said Melfi.
jgoodwin@vindy.com