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News Water bill (continued from page 11) Then the $281.19 September bill came. So Stone called the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Department, “and they sent someone out,” she said. “They said that it was OK. I called back and said, ‘No, it isn’t OK.’” The utility then told Stone she either has a leak or someone hooked a hose to her outdoor faucet and was stealing water. “That’s not feasible,” she said. “I’m home a lot. I would know” if someone was stealing water.” GET THE MOST out of your gadgets with Time Warner Cable! Get Digital Cable, Road Runner ® High Speed $29 Online and Digital Phone 95 as low as each per month for 12 months Digital Cable • Access to over 180 channels, with up to 46 music channels • Get the most popular cable and sports programming in crystalclear HD for no additional charge • On-screen program guide and access to On Demand Page 14 • University City Weekly • Jan. 22-28, 2010 A utility official said she had to pay the disputed bill and set up for a payment plan over three months. “I had no choice but to pay,” Stone said. She called a plumber and acknowledged he found a small leak in the pipe under the kitchen sink. “It had a tiny drip drip (that totaled) less than a quarter of a cup of water,” she said. If that was the cause of the water-bill fluctuation, the “bill would not have gone down the next month.” In October, a disconnection notice showed up, even though she agreed to the payment plan. She received notices in November, December and January • Always-on Internet connection means less waiting and more exploring • Safer surfing with free security software: Anti-Virus, Anti-Spam, AntiSpyware, Firewall Protection and Pop-up Blocker as well. “It’s almost strong arm,” Stone said. “It’s a power thing. People are being intimidated and that’s not right.” The utility’s treatment of homeownercustomers is one area a citizen task force is scrutinizing. Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte asked the 12 citizens, many with technical training and experience working with utilities, to look into multiplying complaints about unexplained high water bills. At the task force’s first meeting Jan. 11, Rob Charbonneau, a retired Davidson engineer and member of the task force, asked why utility officials couldn’t put a hold on disputed bills while the utility is Digital Phone • Talk all you want for one low monthly price • Caller ID, Call Waiting, Speed Dial, Three-way Calling, Call Forwarding and more at no additional charge CALL 1-877-387-9249 | VISIT YourTWC.com/offer/cwk Offer applies to new customers in serviceable areas only. Promotional rate based on Basic Cable with HD Digital Box and Remote Control, Road Runner Basic with speeds up to 1.5 Mbps and Digital Phone Unlimited Carolinas. Actual speeds may vary. Regular rates will apply after 12 month promotional period. Customer must add and retain all three products to receive promotional rate. Some services not available to CableCARD customers. HD converter and an HDTV required for Time Warner Cable HD programming. Additional charges for some HD channel, ancillary services and Movies On Demand. Security software is not available for Macintosh computers. Digital Phone does not include backup power and, as in the case with an electric powered home cordless phone, should there be a power outage, Digital Phone, including the ability to access 911 services, may not be available. Additional charges apply for Directory Assistance, Operator Services, long distance calls (outside of North and South Carolina) and calls to international locations. Standard installation and custom wiring charges may apply. Offer is not transferable and may not be combined with any other offer. Time Warner Cable and its affiliates and suppliers reserve the right to discontinue any product, feature or offer at any time. Service may not be available in all areas. Pricing does not include franchise fees or taxes. Other restrictions may apply. Limited time offer. © 2010 Time Warner Cable, Inc. POWER OF YOU is a registered trademark of Time Warner Cable, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All other corporate brands and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. (s10) investigating a homeowner’s concerns. He got no answer from two utility employees at the meeting. Erin Culbert, the utility’s environmental outreach coordinator, wrote in an e-mail later, “In terms of customer service and response, we have begun some improvements based on the feedback we heard Dec. 9 and Jan. 11. We’ve begun reviewing the door hangers and form letters we send to make them more informative and customer friendly. We’re contacting customers at the beginning of the high-bill investigation to involve them in the process if they are home or are calling them afterward to tell them the results rather than just leaving a door hanger with the results. “We also are improving our Web site to better inform customers about possible causes of high bills and simple tips about how to find a leak. And we’ll be open to suggestions from the task force about other improvements as well.” Utility staff also divide water-bill investigations into different categories, Culbert wrote in her e-mail. “When we look at the consumption history of a customer who has called, sometimes their water usage patterns illustrate what is probably irrigation (high in summer months, low in winter),” she wrote. “Sometimes we can identify what might be a leak (successive months in a row with higher-than-normal usage or months with increasing usage). Sometimes we see a customer who has repeated spikes, which may indicate seasonal pool filling or family that visits during certain months. “And, of course, since we don’t know what happens to the water after passing through the meter, there are times when we just can’t identify why the bill is higher. These are conceptual categories we use to help the customer determine causes.” The utility recently ran an analysis for customers who had bills exceeding more than $200 in recent months. Of more than 240,000 accounts the utility bills monthly, the analysis showed: • From Sept. 27 to Oct. 25: 7,924 had a bill more than $200 (“higher because fall irrigation,” Culbert said). • Oct. 27 to Nov. 24: 3,415 had a bill more than $200. • Nov. 29 to Dec. 27: 1,421 had a bill more than $200 (“now reflecting more ‘winter’ usage,” Culbert wrote). “While this does not separate the causes, we are finding those with a cause we or the customer cannot identify to be a small percentage of the total complaints and field investigations we do,” Culbert wrote. “Once we test the meter and transmitter and find they are working correctly, it is difficult for us to determine a cause outside of that, since we have no way of knowing how a particular customer uses water and where it goes after it passes through the meter.” Cornelius resident Jim Duke serves as chairman of the citizen task force. He has a master’s degree in financial management and spent 22 years as chairman of the Stafford County Utility Commission in Virginia. He is president of the Peninsula Property Owners Association. q www.universitycityweekly.com
Health & Wellness New training film asks community’s help in preventing suicide CHARLOTTE – Undoubtedly, suicide is a touchy subject. But after losing a loved one to suicide last year, Mecklenburg County employee Jack Stutts wants to challenge others to do something that seems difficult. “You must ask the question,” Stutts says. In a time when many people have lost jobs or their homes, mental health professions are seeing more alcohol and substance abuse, depression and suicide attempts. So Mecklenburg County Area Mental Health has partnered with the Mecklenburg County Health Department, Mecklenburg County Public Service & Information, Carolinas Medical Center- Randolph and the Mental Health Association of Central Carolinas to produce a 15-minute suicide prevention training video. Stutts and other county employees participated in the production of “This Facts on suicide • More than one in four of us may be experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety right now. • A suicide occurs every 16 minutes. • For every suicide, 25 are attempted. • According to a recent survey of local youth, one in eight youth attempted suicide last year. • Carolinas Medical Center-Randolph treated more than 200 suicide attempts in its emergency room last year. Will Pass: Suicide Prevention,” to address an often-misunderstood mental health concern. Dr. Elizabeth Peterson-Vita offers professional perspective on how to spot the signs and symptoms of a person considering suicide and how to intervene when someone is struggling. Gary Black and Joseph Travis of Public Service & Information shot and edited the film, which urges viewers to ask tough questions and direct those in crisis to get help immediately. “This Will Pass: Suicide Prevention” will premiere during a community event Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Mint Museum of Art. Authorities plan to distribute the film as a training tool to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte- Mecklenburg Schools, crisis intervention teams and a variety of community partners, including churches, colleges and universities. The film is free to the public and can be streamed in its entirety at www.MecklenburgCountyNC.gov. “We have not seen the end of our economic struggles, and we have not seen the end of suicide attempts,” Mecklenburg County Area Mental Health Director Grayce Crockett said in a news release. “It is imperative that we come together as a community, that we each play our part to look, listen and point people to help. You don’t have to be a mental health professional to save a life.” Residents should be aware of the signs and symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression among friends, co-workers, family members and neighbors. Here are some things to look for: • Expressions of hopelessness and helplessness • Depression • Previous suicide attempts • Daring or risk-taking behavior • Personality changes • Giving away prized possessions • Talk of suicide (i.e., “you’d be better off without me” or “maybe I won’t be around”) • Acquiring weapons or other means to kill themselves • Lack of interest in future plans The public is invited to enroll in a series of suicide prevention training sessions called Q.P.R. (Question, Persuade Local groups that help • H.U.G.S. groups: Healing and Understanding of Grief from Suicide (HUGS) is a support group for people who have lost a family member or friend to suicide. Call 704-541-9011 for information. • MeckLINK: 704-336-6404. This is the Mecklenburg County Area Mental Health call center. Qualified mental health professionals assess individual needs and refer people to mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability service providers. No insurance is necessary. • Mobile Crisis Team: 704-566- 3410. This team of mental health professionals will go anywhere in the county at any time to respond to mental health crises. • CMC-Randolph: 704-444-2400 or toll free 1-800-418-2065. This is a 24- hour hot line that individuals can call to consult with a qualified mental health professional. and Refer), which are offered through the Mental Health Association of Central Carolinas. For information, go to the agency’s Web site, www.mhacentralcarolinas.org. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is a tollfree, 24-hour suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis. q Spectrum eye care www.spectrumeyecarenc.com Two Doctors • Two Convenient Locations Women’s Fitness Boot Camp Make fitness your priority this year! Pilates • Weights • Yoga • surPrises Accelerated Results Through Dynamic Instruction a Program Designed For the Busy Woman locations in huntersville and uptown! Uptown Empower Yourself! Call 704-398-1182 www.UptownAdventureBootCamp.com Hurry! Next Camp Starts February 15th Megan Price, O.D. David Wichnoski, O.D. accepting new patients Uptown BB&T Center 200 s. college street suite 307, charlotte 704-334-4444 Also located at: Colony Place 7731 colony road suite F2, charlotte 704-543-9000 Get 1/2 off a 2nd set of prescription glasses or sunglasses. Ask for details most insurances accepted www.universitycityweekly.com University City Weekly • Jan. 22-28, 2010 • Page 15
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