The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutITEM IV-BInteroffice Memorandum WASHINGTON To: Public Works Committee From: Shelley Coleman, Finance Director CC: Date: April 4, 2011 Re: A/C 020858, Auburn Professional Plaza/Oliphant- Chronology of Leak/Fix 1 The property is a commercial building which formerly had Key Bank as a tenant. The building has been vacant for several months. 2 On February 14, 2011, Utility Billing noted that the meter read showed a usage of 2,560 ccf since the prior read on December 13, 2010. This equates to roughly 1.9 million gallons of water. Prior to this read, the usage had been zero ccf for 3 reads (6 months). 3 On February 15, 2011 Utility Billing placed a service request to have Operations check the meter for a possible leak. 4 On February 16, 2011, Operations confirmed the meter read and noted additional consumption since the read on February 14, 2011. Operations notified Jay Thorpe, property manager for Auburn Professional Plaza. Mr. Thorpe requested that the meter be turned off and that he would investigate. Operations confirmed that they turned the meter off. 5 On February 17, 2011, Jay Thorpe notified UB that the source of the water consumption was a continuously running toilet inside the building. He stated that they thought the water supply to the building has been turned off, since the building had been vacated. 6 On March 9, 2011, Auburn Professional Plaza LLC was billed for $21,512.88, as follows: a) $6,211.52 for water services/usage b) $3,361.86 for city sewer service charges c) $11,870.35 for King County sewer service charges d) $69.15 for city storm service charges 7 On March 25, 2011, we received a letter from Mr. Jeff Oliphant as President of Auburn Professional Plaza LLC explaining the circumstances of the high consumption, and requesting a leak adjustment. Page 1 of 1 AUBURN * MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED AUBURN PROFESSIONAL PLAZA, LLC P.O. BOX 1294 AUBURN, WASHINGTON 98071-1294 TELEPHONE: (253) 833-6300 March 25, 2011 Ms. Shelley Coleman, Director Department of Finance City of Auburn 25 West Main Street Auburn, WA 98001 Re: Former Key Bruck 1 S A uburn Aven tte City ofAuburn Account 02-858--000 Service Period February 11-March 10, 2011 Dear Ms. Coleman; Please consider this letter as our request for an adjustment to the water bill for the account referenced above, On February 16, 2011 our property manager Jay Thorp was contacted by the City of Auburn Public Works Department regarding the water meter at the now unoccupied former Key Bank building, located at 15 Auburn Avenue (at the corner of First Street NE). According to Jay, the technician stated he was at the site and observed the water meter "spinning" which indicated a large amount of water was being discharged. Since this building has been vacant since last June, we became very concerned that there was a major leak, The technician was very helpful and at Jay's request he turned off the water at the meter which of course stopped the flow to the building. Jay arrived at the building within an hour and inspected the property for any evidence of a water leak. After thorough inspection water was not found anywhere so he secured the building and left. The water remained turned-off at the meter. Jay then contacted our General Contractor, Sierra Construction, to enlist their help to determine the source of any possible water leak. Three individuals from Sierra came to the site with Jay on Friday, February 18, 2011. They performed an inspection of the exterior of the building to determine if there was a break in the pipe somewhere between the building and the water meter. After finding no evidence of surface or subsurface water they turned the meter back on and noted the meter again was spinning continuously. They re-entered the building and heard running water from the men's restroom. Upon further inspection it was discovered that the toilet in the men's room was running continuously. This toilet is equipped with a Sloan commercial type valve. A Sierra employee mechanically closed the valve so no more water could flow through the valve even if someone were to attempt to flush the toilet. Ms. Shelley Coleman, Director Department of Finance City of Auburn Re: Former Key Bank 15 Auburn Avenue City ofAuburn Account 02-858-000 Service Period February 11-- March 10, 2011 March 25, 2011 Page Two We have taken the same steps with the women's room toilet in an effort to secure all water systems within the building, We feel confident the water system at this building is now secure. We will continue to keep the valve at the water meter closed and we have instructed Jay to inspect the interior of the building on a weekly basis to ensure the integrity of all systems within the building. We might add that a review of the water bills for the property will reveal zero consumption since the time Key Bank vacated and relocated to One Main Street Professional Plaza. Prior to their relocation, Key Bank was responsible for payment of the water consumed at 15 Auburn Avenue. We were under the impression that when they relocated, they had ordered the water to be turned off. Obviously this impression was in error, notwithstanding the zero consumption. Our affiliated company owns the vacant building at 55 A Street SE (the former Washington Federal bank building). We have double-checked to be sure the water to this building has been turned off as-well. Again, please consider this letter as our request for leak adjustment in accordance with the policies and procedures of the City of Auburn. Thank you for your consideration. Yours very truly, AUBURN PROFESSIONAL PLAZA, LLC . & I likvMAJ 64*41A By; Jeffrey Oliphant, President JO:Ij City Aub Water Utility Billing Printed: 03/28/2011 9:39:04 AM 'ug1egg Service Request Form Request Number: 000537-02-2011 Last Updated By: madonnad Account Number: 020858-000 On: 2/17/2011 Account Status: Active Name: AUBURN PROFESSIONAL PLAZA L Home Phone: Billing Address: CIO MICHAEL JON KLEIN Business Phone: 5743 CORSA AVE. STE 216 Service Address: 15 AUBURN AVE WESTLAKE, CA 91362 Request Date: 2/15/2011 Request Description: Please check for a leak or a misread, Cons came in really high. Service Date: 2/16/2011 Service Description: 2/16 per Brent, Read is 4448. Looks like pretty good leak. Meter serves Old Key Bank. Notified jay Thorpe. He ked that I turn meter off. He will come & investigate. Meter is now off. Water/Gas /Meters Route-Seq Serial No Register ID MXU ID Manufacturer Model No Reading Read Dt Cons No Of Digits Existing Water 312-001470 14675596 Unknown F-1.5-4-1 4307 Meter 2/14/2011 2560 4 Location: Comments: Follow up needed? yes no Serviced By: Date: