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Wheeler holds first reading of ordinance to formalize water-leak billing adjustments
Summary
Council performed the initial reading of Ordinance 2024-01 to allow staff to authorize water-bill adjustments under $200 and set procedures for leak-credit requests; councilors requested clarifications on catastrophic failures, absentee-owner guidance, and turn-off instructions.
Wheeler — The City of Wheeler conducted the first reading of Ordinance 2024-01, a proposed account-adjustment policy for inadvertent customer water leaks, at its June 18 meeting.
Under the draft ordinance staff would be authorized to grant billing adjustments without council approval for amounts under $200; adjustments above that threshold would be brought to council. The policy would allow a credit of 50% of the overage above a customer’s 12-month average monthly use, permit one adjustment per calendar year, and exclude long-term losses (for example, slow leaking toilets or dripping faucets). Customers must request a credit in writing within two billing cycles and provide documentation of the cause and repairs.
Councilors asked staff to clarify language on what constitutes a "catastrophic or sudden system failure" versus long-term neglect, to advise absentee property owners to turn off water when vacant, and to include practical guidance for residents who do not know how to shut off household water. Staff said they borrowed model language from a neighboring municipality and will take council comments for the second reading, scheduled for the next meeting.
