A $7,000 study to determine whether Oxford Township customers who purchase water and sewer services in bulk deserve some sort of discount for the costs they incur was given the green light to begin last week.
The Auburn Hills-based Christopher Investment Company, owner of the Lake Villa Manufactured Home Community, has agreed to pay for the study, which will be conducted Giffels-Webster Engineers.
At issue, is whether or not bulk users, such as Lake Villa, should be given ‘any credits, discounts, rebates (or) reductions? based on the costs they incur for ‘billing, administration, collections, repairs, maintenance, leakage and the like? related to supplying water and sewer, according to Dan Myrick, vice president and general counsel for Christopher Investment Co.
‘So long as that is in fact the purpose of the study, we in fact would be willing to pay for it,? Myrick said.
Although Christopher Investment Co. receives one quarterly bill for water and sewer services from the county and township, it incurs administrative costs related to sending out 851 individual bills to all the units in Lake Villa and collecting money from them.
Christopher Investment also owns all the water and sewer infrastructure in the park ? with the exception of the wells and well house, which the township owns ? and is responsible for all repairs and maintenance.
Treasurer Ferrari said the study will determine ‘if there’s any validity? to the idea that bulk users should be given a discount for such expenses.
‘That’s why they’re doing it,? he said.