Oglesby council directs staff to draft commercial dual-metering amendment

Oglesby's City Council on a unanimous roll call directed staff to draft an amendment to the city's dual metering ordinance so commercial properties can install a second meter for outdoor irrigation and be eligible for sewer-bill credit similar to residents.

A council member who introduced the discussion said businesses with established irrigation systems had asked for parity. "We were approached by a business in town who has a relatively large amount of grass that they'd like to water and they actually have a full irrigation system already in place," the committee member said, arguing it would be unfair to allow residents but not businesses the same sewer credit.

Staff and the plumbing inspector said the owner would purchase the commercial meter and the plumbing inspector would inspect installations to ensure a separate irrigation line. A staff member noted the residential language limits use to "filling a swimming pool or watering a lawn, shrub, trees, or other landscape materials" and said he would add a second paragraph mirroring that restriction for commercial use.

The council discussed technical safeguards, meter sizing and the option to restrict changes in use: the plumbing inspector said meters for commercial irrigation are generally a 2-inch or smaller installation and inspections would verify separation from potable lines. "They'll purchase it... I think he has a 2 inch meter there now," the staff member said.

After the discussion the council made and passed a motion directing staff to draft language that mirrors residential dual metering rules for commercial enterprises, with inspection and equipment standards to be included. The motion was moved and seconded and approved by roll call vote.

The draft amendment will return to the council for formal consideration before any ordinance change is adopted.