An unexpected water bill has left Crossing Place Apartments tenants scratching their heads and complex managers issuing apologies.

The bill, delivered earlier this month, was the first sent to tenants since they moved in. Tenants were charged a $10.65 flat rate each month for January and February.

Crossing Place property manager Bonnie Hymes then sent out a memo to tenants last week, stating the bill would be $10.65 "from now on." Hymes would not return numerous telephone calls made by The State News to her office and home Wednesday afternoon.

An apology, sent by an assistant manager Wednesday morning, stated tenants who had lived in the complex, 3636 E. Coleman Road, for more than a year would not have to pay the money because it was not a part of their original lease agreements. However, those who signed for this school year still are required to pay up, even though fall 2003 leasing advertisements offered free water usage.

Some tenants are confused about how the bill adds up.

"The bill is for a uniform price, and it doesn't measure how much we really use," said tenant James Bernstein, adding that he wondered if complex amenities were included in the bill. "They have a hot tub and a pool - are we paying for that, too?"

Bernstein, a public administration and public policy junior, said he's not convinced he uses $10.65 in water each month and said he thinks the rate is unfair. He and his roommates were four of many tenants who complained to management about the bill in the past two weeks.

Lisa Hanes, the former operations and marketing director for Student Housing USA, a Texas-based company that owns Crossing Place, said Tuesday afternoon the rate for January's water bill was calculated by dividing the total water usage cost by the number of bedrooms in the complex. The company will pay bills issued to empty apartments.

"We're trying to do the best we can," Hanes said. "This isn't the best way to start this, but it is in the leases."

Hanes, who deals directly with Crossing Place on-site managers, said she wasn't aware of the February add-on to the bill, but said the person responsible for preparing the bills was fired.

Hanes, as of Wednesday morning, also was no longer employed by the company.

A "mutual agreement" was made between her and the company, she said, adding that the reason for her unemployment was not related to the water bill concerns in East Lansing.

Hanes said Crossing Place would be dividing the water bill among tenants, building by building, for future water bills, beginning in March.

Neighboring complex Melrose Apartments, 16789 Chandler Road, bills its tenants for water usage according to each apartment's use, rather than a divided rate among many tenants, said Melrose office staff member Chris Lemon.

Despite the spontaneity, asking a tenant to pay a bill even though they haven't paid it before is legal, as long as it is stipulated in the lease, said Maryann Pierce, who supervises the Rental Housing Clinic, 541 E. Grand River Ave.

"A lot of judges would base their decision only on the contract," she said.

But Pierce said she has some concerns with what was occurring at Crossing Place.

"What we don't know is how they are accessing the water," she said. "The memos are just their way to explain huge administrative problems."

Hospitality business junior Kevin Murphy said the whole billing process has been unprofessional. Murphy said he and his roommates have complained to management that the bill was unfair.

"Everyone likes this place because it's new," he said. "It's a nice place, but it seems like we're getting screwed."