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Retired Schertz resident asks council to grandfather water‑heater electrical pigtails, cites inspection costs
Summary
A longtime Schertz resident told council that new inspection and permit requirements for electric water‑heater hookups imposed unexpected costs and urged the city to grandfather existing pigtail connections or reduce duplicate permit fees when only one inspector performs the final check.
SCHERTZ, Texas — At the May 20 Schertz City Council meeting, resident Ken McCorkle urged the council and the city inspection office to consider grandfathering electrical pigtail hookups used on electric water heaters and to revisit permit fees that he said require two permits but often result in a single inspector visit.
“Most of the homes that are in this city of Schertz just until recently have always had that,” McCorkle said, referring to the small three‑pronged pigtail electrical connector long used for water heaters. McCorkle said he recently had to pay for a water heater and two permits and that the electrical work cost him more than $600. “I had to pay for a water heater, then I had to pay for 2 permits,” he said, and added that the $600 electrical work is burdensome for residents on fixed incomes.
McCorkle said he expected separate plumbing and electrical inspections but was told a single inspector would do the final check; he asked the city to either allow the pigtail connections to remain in place for existing homes or to charge a single fee when only one inspector conducts the final inspection. “If you're only gonna have 1 guy come out and inspect work, we only should be charged $70,” he said, citing the discrepancy between paid permits and the inspection performed.
McCorkle identified himself as a retired disabled veteran who has lived in his home for 27 years. He framed his request as a cost‑of‑living concern for seniors and residents on fixed incomes and asked the council to consider adjustments for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
The remarks came during the hearing of residents; no staff response or formal action on permit policy was recorded on May 20. Council members acknowledged the comment and indicated they wanted discussions about permit fees and possible accommodations at a future time, but no vote or change was made at the meeting.
