Council reviews water hookup list, impact-fee timeline and transfer process for lots on waiting list

Trenton councilmembers reviewed the town’s water hookup waiting list, clarified the timing for awarding hookups under the town ordinance and discussed how hookups should transfer when an owner sells a lot.

Council members said the current waiting list contains about 16 entries. Staff described the March schedule set out in the ordinance for finalizing awards so that applicants and contractors have time to prepare and install hookups before adverse winter weather. Council discussed the rationale for the March notice period — permitting review of fees and allowing applicants time to secure funds before installations.

The council considered questions that arise when a property on the waiting list is sold before its hookup date. Members discussed electronic tracking of the parcel number with a slash to indicate a new owner (for example, “Diamonds / [new owner]”) and proposed creating a short “transfer” form to be kept with the applicant file to record a buyer’s name and maintain the correct timeframe for hookup eligibility. One council member said most people on the list own only a single lot, and staff noted there are only a few owners with multiple lots.

Councilmembers also said they would finalize changes to an ordinance at a future meeting; one member said staff would place the finalized impact-fee item on the March agenda for adoption and notification.

No final ordinance change or award of hookups occurred at the Dec. 10 meeting; the council directed staff to prepare a transfer form, confirm parcel-based electronic list format and return with the finalized ordinance language and timeline for March consideration.