NAMPA -- A former Nampa deputy public works director filed a tort claim against the city, charging that he was fired for uncovering billing issues.
Michael Mieyr filed the tort Thursday over what he considers to be a wrongful termination and retribution for whistleblowing. According to the claim, Mieyr plans to seek damages upwards of $750,000 from the city of Nampa.
Mieyr was fired Oct. 24, just 10 months after he was hired as deputy public works director. He says he was let go after he discovered and reported numerous accounts that were being over-billed or under-billed for utilities.
According to the tort, one large commercial account-holder was erroneously charged $350 per month instead of $3,500 per month for nearly a decade. Mieyr says that one account cost the city of Nampa $378,000 in money it should have been paid.
Mieyr found about 50 customers in all that were asked to pay too much or too little, and discovered "discrepancies" in more than 1,300 accounts.
Mieyr launched a contractor meter audit to address the billing problems, but was fired months later.
A spokeswoman for the City of Nampa said the mayor's office had no comment.
