On Aug. 7 the Board of Aldermen voted to discontinue the city practice of providing pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) to regulate customer water pressure and set an implementation date of July 1, 2026. Public Works Director Jeff Fisher said the service "has been a practice for some time" but is not supported by current ordinance and exposes the city to liability when a PRV fails.

Alderman Rucker argued the city must comply with its ordinance and set a firm date. Alderman Hoffman, Alderman Collins and other members pushed for more transition time; Collins, who owns multiple businesses and inspects PRVs, said property owners are already responsible for maintaining PRVs and that a delayed cutoff is reasonable.

The board considered several dates and amendments. Alderman Hoffman initially proposed Sept. 1 of the following year; Alderman Collins moved to change the date to July 1, 2026. The amended motion to set the discontinuation date for 07/01/2026 passed on a board vote. The board directed staff to notify customers with water-bill messaging and to provide guidance to property owners while discontinuing the service at the agreed date.

Jeff Fisher warned current stock of valves might be insufficient to reach the later dates without additional purchases; the board indicated it would consider limited purchases to avoid leaving customers temporarily unserved during the transition. Fisher also explained that liability for damage resulting from PRV failure generally rests with the city when the city provides and maintains the device.

The board’s action is a policy change establishing a timetable; it distinguishes between discontinuing a city practice, providing customers guidance during the transition, and any future formal ordinance updates staff may present.