Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council amends meter-testing rule to waive fee when meter error exceeds 2%
Summary
Council amended an ordinance to change the city’s meter-testing language: if a meter test shows a discrepancy greater than 2%, the bill will be adjusted, the service meter replaced and the testing fee waived.
Columbiana City Council voted to amend the codified ordinance on utility meter testing to waive the testing fee when a meter’s test shows a discrepancy greater than 2 percent.
The amendment changes the last sentence of section 10.42.12(f) to read that if the meter test indicates a discrepancy of more than 2%, adjustments to bills shall be made accordingly, the service meter replaced, and the testing fee waived. The council approved the motion to amend and then approved the ordinance reading as amended on the record.
Council discussion included a question about whether the amended language had been incorporated; staff and councilmembers confirmed the specific addition (waiving the testing fee). The amendment was proposed as a simple change to one sentence so the meter replacement, bill adjustment and fee waiver would apply automatically when tests show discrepancies over the 2% threshold.
Discussion vs. decision: the amendment was proposed, seconded and approved by roll call; the ordinance remained at second reading with the amendment adopted for the record.
Clarifying details: the amended threshold is “more than 2%” discrepancy; the amendment explicitly adds that the testing fee will be waived when that threshold is exceeded. The motion to amend and the roll-call approvals were recorded in the meeting transcript.
Ending: Staff said they can prepare the amended language in ordinance form for final adoption on a subsequent reading consistent with council procedure.
