Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance And Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Prairie Grove council cuts trash-only resumption fee, adopts remote-access and clearing-account resolutions
Summary
At its Sept. 16 meeting the Prairie Grove City Council reduced the resumption fee for trash-only service from $40 to $20 and adopted two auditor-recommended resolutions: an updated remote-access policy and a revision clarifying use of the city's clearing account.
The Prairie Grove City Council on Sept. 16 voted to lower the resumption (reinstatement) fee for customers who receive only trash service from $40 to $20 and placed the rule in a distinct ordinance section for trash-only customers.
Council members said the change responds to concerns that customers who do not receive city water or sewer should not be charged the larger water reconnection fee. Staff explained the current fee structure and that the amendment moves the trash-only language out of the water-billing section to make future code references clearer. A council member moved to set the fee at $20; a roll-call vote was recorded and the motion carried.
On the consent/resolution side, the council unanimously adopted a resolution updating the city’s remote-access policy after state auditors recommended an update. Members discussed controls staff should add over time, including which positions are authorized for remote access, procedures to deactivate access on employee termination and guidance about storing city data on personal devices. Council requested follow-up from staff on implementation details.
The council also approved a resolution revising the city’s clearing (declaring) account. Staff told the council the account, originally opened for payroll processing, now receives state deposits and is being used for additional transactional activity; the resolution clarifies permitted uses.
Votes at a glance - Trash-only resumption fee: Adopted (resumption fee reduced from $40 to $20; ordinance language separated into trash billing). Vote: roll call — motion carried. - Remote-access policy resolution: Adopted (auditor-recommended update; follow-up implementation requested). Vote: unanimous. - Clearing-account resolution: Adopted (clarifies use of the clearing account). Vote: unanimous.
The council also approved minutes from the Aug. 19 meeting and moved several routine reports into audit. Council directed staff to return with more implementation details on the remote-access policy and confirmed the trash-only ordinance language change so it will be referenced directly in the trash section of the code rather than within water-billing provisions.
