Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Code topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Emporia adopts ordinance requiring full payment before water reconnection after nonpayment
Summary
City Council unanimously adopted an amendment to City Code Sec. 78-95 that requires customers disconnected for nonpayment to pay all past-due balances in full before service restoration; the public hearing saw no public speakers.
Treasurer Karen A. Taylor presented an amendment to Emporia City Code Sec. 78-95 during a public hearing May 19, proposing that customers disconnected for nonpayment must remit all past-due balances before water service is restored.
The public hearing drew no speakers. Councilman James C. Saunders moved to approve and adopt the ordinance amending Sec. 78-95; the motion passed by unanimous roll call. The ordinance clarifies the city’s reconnection condition for nonpayment and will be codified in the municipal code.
Council discussion and public comment during the meeting included a related resident concern from Janee Bush asking whether assistance programs exist to help homeowners replace private service lines; staff agreed to provide follow-up information on private-line responsibilities. Council later returned to this topic in staff follow-up tasks.
Why it matters: The amendment tightens reconnection requirements, which can affect residents who fall behind on bills; the council and staff noted sensitivity for senior residents and asked staff to consider outreach before disconnections.
