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Council discusses equity of electric connection fees; moves Ordinance 2025-8 forward for additional readings
Summary
Councilmembers debated fairness of proposed electric connection fees under Ordinance 2025-8, with attention to differences between subdivisions, remote hookups and industrial connections; the measure advanced for further consideration and was taken to third reading during the meeting.
The Scottsburg City Council held a substantive discussion about proposed changes to electric connection fees under Ordinance 2025-8, focusing on whether fees should vary by development type and distance from existing infrastructure. Willie (identified in the meeting as a utility-related speaker) told the council that connection fees for subdivisions, houses far from infrastructure and industrial sites vary widely and that charging the same flat fee can be unfair to residents who require extensive new infrastructure. He urged flexibility in the fee schedule to account for primary vs. secondary service, distance to mains and whether a project is residential or industrial. Councilmembers asked staff to confirm the details included in the ordinance and to ensure the schedule is fair to both the utility and customers. Mayor Amick and other councilmembers said the ordinance has changed multiple times and that staff should reconcile variable factors such as overhead vs. underground service and incremental construction costs. Council moved Ordinance 2025-8 forward from second reading and indicated readiness to consider it at third reading; the meeting record shows the item advanced in the agenda but does not record a final roll-call vote adopting the ordinance at that meeting. No members of the public addressed the council during the public hearing on this ordinance.
