The city of Milton sent a bill for nearly $14,000 to the Holiday Inn Express on State Road 87 for back sewer service.

That was news to motel general manager Raveen Arora, who said the motel has not been billed for sewer service since opening in May 1999.

"It comes as a shock to know you owe $14,000 you didn't even know about," he said.

Milton City Manager Donna Adams said an employee brought the error of not billing the motel to the city's attention recently. The usage was determined by checking the water meter records at the East Milton Water System, which the motel is connected to.

The $13,947.71 sewer bill is based on water usage, Adams said.

When Milton City Council voted to have the motel pay the bill, it included the stipulation of an offer of a payment plan, saying it would be unfair to ask the motel to make payment in full.

Arora said they will accept the offer.

Council members also asked the public works department to conduct an audit to make certain this mistake is not happening to other customers.

Mayor Guy Thompson has called for the city's auditor to investigate.

"I know there is blame on both sides," Thompson said. "The city has a responsibility to make sure it is billing. The (customer) has a responsibility to make certain they are paying for services. I feel bad this has happened.

"We will re-double our efforts to go back through all our accounts to make sure we are billing correctly."

Arora said he'd hope the matter could have been waived, and the Holiday Inn Express could receive a fresh start. However, he said he understood the city's position.

"It's one of those things," he said. "They do what they have to do. We have no wish to be in the bad books of the city."

Pensacola News Journal

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2002