Resident asks council to permit city water fills for future rural home; council asks for formal agenda item

Jake Tuttle, a resident, told the council during public comment that he plans to build a home on property south of Orangeville and asked whether the city could allow periodic filling of large water tanks from the municipal system.

Tuttle said running utility lines from town would cost nearly $1 million and that groundwater in the area is too alkaline for household use. He said his plan is to install two 8,000-gallon tanks (16,000 gallons total) and periodically haul water from the city to the site. "So our our best option now is to haul water in," he said, adding that early use estimates were closer to 5,000 gallons per month and he did not expect to regularly exceed a 10,000‑gallon monthly allotment used by other city accounts.

Council members discussed operational details, including using a hydrant versus filling at the firehouse, whether a meter or hydrant-meter could be used, and who would staff or supervise fills. One council member noted the city’s standard allowance of 10,000 gallons per month for culinary connections and that charges apply for overage. The council advised Tuttle to bring a formal request to a future council agenda so the city can approve terms in advance; staff and council members said a service-district referral or an additional meter might be needed depending on the chosen approach. One council member added that running full culinary service to the parcel would require annexation into the city.

Council did not take a vote on the request at the meeting. Instead, members instructed staff to place the item on a future agenda so council can consider a formal agreement and any associated fees and operational requirements.