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Council adopts utility ordinance changes: contractor-installed water taps, new tap fees and cost-recovery for damaged meters
Summary
Claremore adopted amendments to allow contractors to perform water taps, approved a new schedule of charges for water taps and relocations, and approved an ordinance enabling the city to recoup costs when customers or contractors damage city-owned water infrastructure.
The Claremore City Council approved a series of ordinances and fee schedule changes affecting water utility operations.
Council adopted an amendment to the municipal code authorizing contractors, rather than city crews, to make new waterline taps. City staff said the change will allow public works crews to focus on maintenance of meters, valves and other infrastructure.
Relatedly, the council approved a new schedule of charges that lowers the fee for water taps because contractors will bear the installation cost; staff said the city will continue to purchase meters and perform inspection to ensure compliance with engineering standards.
The council also approved an ordinance to allow the city to recover costs from customers or contractors who negligently damage city property such as meter lids or meter cans. Staff said the ordinance is intended to avoid the city covering repeated replacement costs (staff estimated 50'100 damaged lids annually) and to ensure that responsible parties pay for repairs beyond ordinary wear.
Two items that had been proposed with emergency clauses were struck from the agenda after city staff explained the council lacked the supermajority needed to adopt emergency measures; those items will take effect in 30 days under the standard ordinance adoption schedule.
Council members approved the codification of 2024 ordinances into the city code as part of the consent items.
