Goshen council amends water rates ordinance to add outside testing fees, passes on second reading

GOSHEN — The Goshen City Council on Jan. 26 amended and unanimously passed Ordinance 52-46, updating the city’s water utility schedule of rates and charges to include lab testing fees for external customers.

Councilor Weddle introduced the ordinance on second and final reading. A memorandum from the legal department and water staff recommended adding a charge so the water department can provide coliform and E. coli testing to other municipalities. City staff explained the proposed fees: “They'd like to charge $45 per test if tests are performed Monday through Friday during normal business hours, and $180 if not during those times,” according to city staff present at the meeting.

The council voted to amend the ordinance to add the testing fees as a new section (section f on page 4 of the packet). The amendment passed by unanimous voice vote, and the ordinance as amended passed unanimously on second reading.

The amendment was presented as an administrative clarification to consolidate charges within the existing utility rates ordinance rather than create a separate ordinance for the fee. No members of the public spoke at the public hearing on the water rate changes.

Next steps: with passage on second and final reading, the ordinance is recorded as passed by the council. The meeting packet included a legal memorandum from Shannon Marks in the legal department and additional background from Dustin (city staff) detailing the change; the packet materials were cited during council discussion.