Appleton officials say an elderly man owes more than $3,000 for his quarterly water bill, even though his family says he hasn't lived in his home for a year.

Relatives say 84-year-old Norm Beckman moved out of his house last October because of health reasons.

But in April, he received a $2,665 water bill for use from Jan. 1 to March 31. With interest, it now adds up to nearly $3,000.

City water department technicians say something as simple as a leaking toilet could account for the large amount of water used. But the bill was received during the same month the city removed a broken water meter from Beckman's home.

Utility Committee members agreed Tuesday to give Beckman's family more time to look into the matter.