Stilwell council adopts Ordinance 309 I to fix utilities rates, approves emergency clause

The Stilwell City Council voted unanimously Feb. 17 to adopt Ordinance 309 I, which fixes rates for water, sewer and electric service effective March 1, 2026, and schedules further rate increases on July 1 of 2027, 2028 and 2029. The ordinance also repeals several prior ordinance sections and sets related policy and responsibility provisions.

Councilmember Debbie Johnson moved to adopt the ordinance; Coye Nettles seconded. The council recorded a 4-0 vote in favor (Coye Nettles, Debbie Johnson, Jim Spray and Lane Kindle voted yes; Barrett Harris was absent). The ordinance was recorded as Ordinance 309 I in the minutes.

In a separate but related vote the council approved an emergency clause by a 4-0 vote, making Ordinance 309 I effective immediately upon passage and approval. The motion to adopt the emergency clause was moved by Jim Spray and seconded by Lane Kindle; the minutes state the clause was adopted “for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety.”

The ordinance text in the minutes specifies the March 1, 2026 effective date and the scheduled July increases through 2029 but does not include the specific new rate figures in the recorded vote text. The minutes do not record any public comment or discussion of the rate calculations during the special meeting.

Next steps: with the emergency clause adopted, the council’s minutes indicate the ordinance is effective immediately; the minutes do not state whether additional public hearings or customer-notification steps will follow.

The council took the votes during its special meeting at Stilwell City Hall; the session included an executive session later in the agenda for unrelated legal matters.