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Council clears first reading of utility-billing ordinance to remove rigid daily cutoff times, staff says change eases processing
Summary
Fairview council reviewed an ordinance amendment to remove specific 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. clock times from the municipal code’s utility-billing shutoff process, replacing them with within-day timings that allow staff to complete notifications and coordinate field operations during regular business hours. The ordinance moved to second reading.
The Fairview City Council on Aug. 6 reviewed and advanced an ordinance amendment to the municipal code that removes two specific clock times tied to the water utility shutoff process and replaces them with within-day timings to give staff flexibility to complete notifications and field coordination during normal business hours.
Why it matters: the ordinance does not change the number of days or the notification requirements in the shutoff process; rather, it removes a 5 p.m. and a 10 a.m. fixed time in the procedural code that staff said created a bottleneck and required after-hours work to print and prepare notices for residents and public works.
Staff presentation and rationale: utility-billing staff said the 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. times in the code forced overtime and created a morning processing bottleneck for the team that prepares door-hanger notifications for same-day field shutoffs. The proposed change keeps all current notification steps and deadlines but allows the finance department to set an internal processing time within the same day to enable printing, mailing and door-hanger preparation during normal hours. Staff said the change would not reduce notice to residents.
Operational detail: staff said automated calls and reminder systems have been implemented to reduce shutoffs. The finance staff reported an average of about 12 to 15 shutoffs per month historically and three shutoffs in the most recent month; staff also said they maintain resource handouts and make payment-arrangement options available to customers who contact the office.
Council action: the council advanced Ordinance 6-2025 to its second reading, scheduled for Aug. 20, 2025.
Next steps: staff will finalize the ordinance language and return for a second reading and adoption; the finance department will set a consistent internal processing time and continue outreach to customers at risk of shutoff.
Quotes in this article reflect staff remarks and council discussion during the Aug. 6, 2025 meeting.
