Oakley adopts cemetery water‑rate classification, sets 100,000‑gallon base per cemetery

The Oakley City Council adopted Ordinance 2026‑03 on April 8, creating a new culinary water-rate classification intended to reflect the historic and conservation-minded water use of the city’s three cemeteries.

City staff summarized the ordinance and said the council had chosen a two-block rate structure: each cemetery would be allowed up to 100,000 gallons per month at the base rate, and any usage above that threshold would be billed at the city’s existing tier‑3 rate. "The option that the council elected to choose was the 2 block option ... they have the opportunity to use up to 100,000 gallons per cemetery per month at the base rate, and anything over and above 100,000 gallons per month is charged at a higher tier rate," staff said during the presentation.

Council opened the item as a public hearing; no substantive opposition appeared in the record. A motion to adopt Ordinance 2026‑03 was made and seconded; council adopted the ordinance by roll call vote. Staff said the ordinance would be posted after adoption and would go into effect the day after posting.

Council members framed the ordinance as an effort to balance the cemeteries’ public-service role and water-conservation expectations. The new classification was described as consistent with Utah law on conservation-minded water rates.

Motion and vote: a council member moved to adopt Ordinance 2026‑03 and a second was recorded; the council then conducted a roll-call vote and the ordinance passed by affirmative votes on the record. The council directed staff to post the ordinance as required and implement the new rate classification.