Commissioners for the Freeland Water & Sewer District unanimously rejected a request from a Freeland man for a break on the bill he received after puncturing a water line in October.

District officials said James Maynard broke a water line while drilling on his property on Beauregard Drive in Freeland in early October, and a three-man work crew was called out over the weekend to repair the line. Last month, the water district billed Maynard $2,555 for the repairs.

Maynard disputed the amount of work that was done, however, and offered to pay $1,277 of the district’s repair bill.

At the water district meeting Monday, district commissioners agreed that Maynard was responsible for the entire cost of the repair job.

District officials also noted that though Maynard broke a water line, he also nearly hit a buried power line that ran alongside the water pipe.

“He’s lucky to be alive,” said engineer Gary Hess.