Del City council approves update to municipal services rules after heated debate over utility deposits

The Del City Municipal Services Authority on Feb. 3 approved a resolution repealing and replacing its general regulations, a move that included discussion about utility deposits, reinstatement fees and staff authority to waive charges.

The measure, introduced as Resolution No. 0203 (2025‑A), was approved by the trustees after roughly an hour of public and council discussion about whether the city’s deposit and reinstatement rules are fair to longtime residents who miss a payment. City officials said the updated rules create a deterrent against repeated nonpayment while preserving discretion to waive fees in hardship cases.

Why it matters: The rules affect how and how much residents must pay to reestablish water service after termination; several council members said the differences in required amounts for long‑standing customers versus new accounts risked appearing punitive to residents in hardship, while staff said stronger deterrents are needed to prevent abuse and help protect city finances.

Trustees and staff debated specific dollar amounts and the mechanics of waivers. City staff said the authority to waive fees rests with the city manager and delegated staff, and indicated there are multiple layers (utility clerks, supervisors, deputy director, city clerk and the city manager) that can approve exceptions. Mayor Floyd Eason said the city must “look out for the good of the whole city, not 1 person,” while others stressed the need for clear, enduring policy so future administrations handle hardship cases consistently.

Discussion highlights: - Several council members described scenarios in which long‑standing residents who miss a payment because of illness or other emergency could face substantially higher costs to restore service than other customers. One council member described a hypothetical where a longtime resident could face roughly $200 to restore service after termination, compared with a smaller amount for new accounts. - City staff and the city manager noted the city follows common utility practice of higher deposits or additional security for accounts with prior terminations, and said staff already has discretion to waive fees on a case‑by‑case basis. - Trustees expressed concern that relying on individual staff goodwill could produce inconsistent outcomes and asked whether a written policy could preserve the “compassionate” practice under future administrations.

The resolution passed on a roll‑call vote (Trustee Finch, Trustee Tatum, Trustee Brown, Trustee Dean and Chair Floyd Eason all voting aye). The council instructed staff to continue outreach and to return policy clarifications as needed.

Next steps: Staff said implementation details and any public‑facing guidance (for example, how reinstatement fees are displayed to customers) will be further developed and presented at future meetings.