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City attorney: utilities may be shut off for unpaid services; council to educate residents on trashcan requirement
Summary
City Attorney Lauver advised the council that the city can legally discontinue any city-provided utility or service for nonpayment of any one utility; council directed City Administrator Matthews to educate residents about municipal code requiring trashcans and to publish notice about garbage schedule changes on water bills.
Council discussed the city's Temporary Garbage Shut-off Policy after the Morrows (Daisy Hauling) raised concerns about many households leaving trash bags at the curb rather than using trashcans. The Morrows estimated about half of residents are leaving bags rather than cans.
City Attorney Lauver, participating by phone, advised that the city may lawfully shut off any municipal utility or service if a resident fails to fully pay for even one city-provided utility or service. Based on that legal guidance, the council directed City Administrator Jacob Matthews to undertake a public-education effort about the municipal code requirement to use trashcans and to remind residents that nonpayment of services can lead to discontinuation of city services.
Separately, Matthews said the city will include advance notice of holiday garbage schedule changes on residents' water bills to ensure timely awareness of service adjustments.
