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Residents, councilors press for pre‑pandemic water‑department hours; advisory board questions influence
Summary
Board members, residents and Councilor Kim Detre urged restoring pre‑pandemic public hours at the water department so customers can talk to staff in person; board members also questioned whether the advisory board's recommendations are considered before policy decisions are made.
Several residents, board members and Councilor Kim Detre pressed the board and city leadership to restore the water department’s pre‑pandemic public hours and criticized the city’s current use of limited window hours and kiosks.
Nut graf: Speakers said restricted hours make it difficult for customers who pay in cash or need in‑person help; board members also criticized weak evidence that advisory recommendations are reviewed before administrative decisions are implemented.
Miss Buckley, a board member, asked pointedly: “When are we ever gonna open up the water department? We keep hearing the same concerns over and over... We’re five years post‑COVID.” Councilor Kim Detre said she agreed and urged the city to match the clerk’s hours and restore access for residents who need to speak to staff in person.
Board members said they have repeatedly recommended reopening the window during normal business hours; Pat and others said the service director and mayor have authority to set hours and that the board’s role is advisory. One board member described a pattern where operational changes happen before the board can review them. “They bring it here after the decision is made,” Pat said, urging earlier engagement so the board can provide meaningful input.
Several board members said they will pursue follow-up steps: one member reported sending formal emails to utilities leadership, the mayor and council asking that public hours be restored; another said he would personally visit the mayor’s office to press the issue and report back to the committee.
Ending: Board members asked staff to include the hour-restoration request in the committee’s report to council and to track any response from the mayor, the service director and utilities leadership.
