Springfield renter paid for 21 years of sewer service he never received

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – KOLR 10 Investigates is looking into a $6,000 sewer dispute pitting one Springfield renter against city leaders.

Earlier this year Tim Trafford realized his family paid for 21 years of sewer service despite using a septic tank the whole time.

The backstory

KOLR 10 Investigates went through months of email conversations and city council meetings and
by all accounts city of Springfield leaders seem to agree they mistakenly charged Trafford’s family for decades of sewer service they never received.

But the parties can’t agree on how much that mistake should cost the city.

“It’s not right,” said Trafford.

He discovered a back-up in his bathroom in January that led him to take a closer look at his utility bill.

Trafford found the home he rents on Glenn Avenue was set up for sewer decades ago.

However, his home was never connected to the city’s sewer system until this January despite the fact that Trafford paid thousands of dollars in sewer fees over the years.

“Our officials think we’re at risk with septic systems maybe older septic systems but have done nothing to make sure they’re actually connected,” he said.

City Council hears Trafford’s case

Trafford did some quick math and went to the city council in April – estimating he had paid close to $10,000 for sewer service he never got – although he would later learn he paid closer to $6,000.

“How do we pay him if we want to do that?” asked Councilman Derek Lee after Trafford presented his case to the council on April 8. “Can I make a motion we pay him for his bill, or does it have to be a bunch of meetings or what?”

Then began the following exchange between Lee and Mayor Ken McClure, who seemed to clash over how to address Trafford’s decades of erroneous sewer bills.

Mayor Ken McClure: “I think we better not make the motion tonight.”

Councilman Derek Lee: “I would like to know the answer. I would respectfully like to know the answer.”

City Attorney Jordan Paul: “I think the best way to resolve it is to treat it like a claim. Have a discussion and vote on it in closed session.”

City offers settlement

While some members of city council seemed eager to act then, Trafford didn’t feel the same level of urgency once he filed that claim and negotiations began in private.

“I was contacted by a variety of city officials who offered me at first $1400 to which I declined. All the way up to and I’m quoting – the final offer of $3,000,” said Trafford.

KOLR 10 Investigates fact check

KOLR 10 Investigates looked into the math and reasoning behind that settlement offer.

In an email, one city employee who works in claims told Trafford the city sewer office records only go back five years.

But when KOLR 10 Investigates submitted a public records request, the city produced 20 years of city sewer records in a matter of days.

On top of that, after Trafford appeared at city council in April, the city provided him with a full 21-year accounting of his payments.

It turns out Trafford’s initial calculations were a bit high because he couldn’t account for inflation without the older records.

Based on records from the city that Trafford shared with KOLR 10 Investigates, he paid $6,003 over 21 years but the city only offered to refund half that.

KOLR 10 Investigates found another inconsistency with the city’s reasoning behind its refund offer. City Manager Jason Gage told Trafford in an email the reason why is because there’s a five-year limit on sewer payment reimbursements.

“I can’t wrap my head around how they can believe that anyone would be responsible for paying for maintenance and usage fees for a service they didn’t receive,” said Trafford.

But when KOLR 10 Investigates looked at the city’s refund policy, we couldn’t find any mention of a time limitation on sewer refunds.

We asked Gage to clarify in an interview, but a city spokesperson declined on his behalf.

What now?

Trafford says as much as he could use the $3,000, it’s a matter of principle now.

“$3,000 to me is three+ months of rent,” he said. “$3,000 to them is probably what they pay for city council lunches I’m sure.”

KOLR 10 Investigates will continue to follow this story until there’s a resolution.

Could it happen to you?

There could be others who live in Springfield paying for sewer service they aren’t receiving. It’s a good idea to check your City Utilities bill if you use a septic system.

However, if you find yourself in a similar situation, the City of Springfield handles the sewer department and any associated disputes. A spokesperson for City Utilities told KOLR 10 Investigates CU includes sewer service on Springfield residents’ bills as a convenience, but CU has no authority over Springfield’s sewer system.

If you aren’t sure if you’re using a sewer or septic system, there are a few different ways you can test to figure it out. Some septic and home inspection companies will use flushable GPS devices or dye kits to locate your home’s wastewater disposal system.

Missouri Septic Services, for instance, offers help locating your septic or sewer system for a $100-$150 fee.

If you need additional assistance or believe you paid for sewer service you didn’t receive, reach out to KOLR 10 Investigates by emailing investigates@ozarksfirst.com or calling 417-295-TIPS.

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