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Council approves first reading of master fee schedule with new animal and utility fees
Summary
Plainview City Council approved the master fee schedule on first reading, adding a $25 meter-tampering fee, a $10 microchip fee, a $50 dangerous-dog fee and a $200 overnight rabies-test shipping charge among other changes.
Plainview — The Plainview City Council on Sept. 9 approved on first reading an annual update to the city’s master fee schedule that adds and adjusts several animal-control and utility-related charges, including a $25 fee for knowingly unplugging an automated water meter and a $200 overnight shipping fee for rabies testing.
City staff introduced the ordinance (Ordinance No. 25-3780) as the city’s annual compilation of fees and proposed specific changes that the council discussed. Public Works Director Weems described the proposed meter-tampering fee and other utility-related adjustments; Weems said the $25 fee would be assessed on the customer’s next water bill and that larger charges to recover equipment-replacement costs would be billed separately. The ordinance passed its first reading on a unanimous voice/roll-call vote and will return for final adoption on a later date.
Why it matters: The fee changes affect residents who use city facilities and city utility services. New charges are intended to recover city costs for damaged equipment and higher service expenses, and incremental changes (for example, rental cleaning deposits and a lost-key rekeying fee) are intended to reduce staff labor and replacement costs.
Key fee changes discussed: - Animal-control: microchip registration fee added — $10; fee for destruction of dangerous dog — $50 (applies when animal-control deems an animal dangerous and it is surrendered); overnight shipping for rabies testing — $200 (staff said samples are sent to a lab in Austin). Staff said shipments occur typically two to three times per month but may vary. - Utility meters and tampering: a $25 fee for knowingly unplugging an automated meter-reading device; additional recovery charges for deliberate damage (e.g., cut wires) to city-owned equipment will be itemized and billed to the responsible party. - Solid waste and rentals: removal of references to 4-cubic-yard dumpsters (equipment no longer available), moving toward size-based tire fees rather than per-pound billing, parks rental cleaning-deposit increase of $100 (rental rates remain unchanged), and a lost-key fee of $350 to cover rekeying costs.
Council questions and clarifications: Council members asked how a dog is deemed dangerous (animal control, in coordination with police, makes that determination), how meter-tampering fees are billed (the $25 fee goes on the next water bill; larger replacement charges may be invoiced separately), and how often meters are unplugged or equipment is damaged (staff estimated 4–10 unplugging incidents per month and about a dozen locations currently needing repair for cut wires).
Action taken: Ordinance No. 25-3780 (master fee schedule, first reading) was moved by Council member Rascon, seconded by Council member House and approved by a unanimous vote (8–0). The ordinance will return for a second and final reading at a later meeting.
