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Council approves four‑month winter sewer lock rate after heated debate
Summary
The Foley City Council approved ordinance 4‑91 to base the winter sewer lock on a four‑month average (Jan–Apr) rather than a single month, a measure proponents said would reduce bill spikes and opponents said penalized some residents; the measure passed after extended debate.
The Foley City Council voted to approve ordinance 4‑91, changing the winter sewer lock calculation from a single month to a four‑month average (January–April) that would determine sewer lock rates for May through August. The motion to adopt the change was moved by a councilmember (speaker 1) and seconded; the measure carried after council discussion.
City staff and supporters said the four‑month average smooths rate spikes caused by single‑month anomalies. Sarah (speaker 7) told the council the change "provides more protection against those variables" such as a one‑month leak or temporary occupancy changes. Staff also said the new approach can be managed through the billing software and would be tied to the fee schedule for future rate adjustments.
Opponents said the winter lock had unintended consequences. One councilmember (speaker 5) said the change had "hurt every single family" and urged the council to "erase the whole thing, do an overview study" before making a lock‑rate permanent. Several speakers argued the city lost large commercial water users after the lock change and that those revenue losses were a significant factor in current rate pressures.
Councilmembers who supported the ordinance stressed that routine rate increases and capital projects, not the lock formula alone, were the drivers of proposed rate adjustments. One supporter, councilmember (speaker 6), said rate increases were needed to "keep up with inflation" and fund upcoming 2025 infrastructure projects.
Because the vote carries implications for public notification costs, staff explained publication options; attorney (Ashley, speaker 3) said a summary publication would require a supermajority (four‑fifths) vote but would save printing costs. The council approved the ordinance as presented.
The council did not adopt a repeal or full moratorium; several members asked staff to proceed with an updated rate study and to consider adjustments after new data are available. The ordinance takes effect according to the city's posting and publication procedures.
