Undercharged for natural gas, M-P Board approves more payment as “what is right”

By Mary Zielinski
“There is no issue about doing this. It is what is right,” Mid-Prairie Board President Jim Hussey said.
The “what” is an additional $20,905.18 payment to the city for Wellman for natural gas usage at the

There is no issue about doing this. It is what is right

high school last winter for which the district was vastly undercharged.
Probably problems with the city’s gas meters resulted in readings that were about a third of actual usage, said Superintendent Mark Schneider.
“We have no way to know how much gas was really used,” he said, but charges for the four prior years showed an average of $34,663.88. Last year, the bill was $13,758.70 and, as Schneider noted, “considering what the winter was like, it could not be right.”
While the district “has no legal obligation” to make an additional payment, Schneider noted that the city “gave us the new site for Alternate Learning Center for no charge” adding there have been other accommodations for the district.
The district reported the lower readings in December, as well as in January and February, but city sent personnel each time reported things were working correctly.
However, Schneider said, this summer Wellman sent one of its consultants to check the gas meter and the problem was found involving a correction factor. In short, it appeared the meter was reading ounces not pounds
Board members agreed with Hussey that it is not a matter of legality but integrity, and Schneider noted “We are still getting a deal.”