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Council approves billing workaround for 1003 Park Street, waiving immediate requirement for separate water taps
Summary
Westmoreland City council approved a recommendation to bill the recently sold building at 1003 Park Street with four minimum monthly water bills in the owner’s name rather than immediately installing four separate water meters, citing building age and logistical challenges.
The Westmoreland City Council voted to accept the city recorder’s recommendation to charge four minimum monthly water bills for the property at 1003 Park Street rather than require four new physical taps and meters.
On a motion recorded as made by Vice Mayor Mary Jo Jones and seconded by Councilman Shelton Calvert, the council approved a plan that waives separate tap installation while ensuring each unit is billed separately. The council discussed that retrofitting the historic building to accommodate four taps would be disruptive and potentially require extensive structural work.
City staff and council members referenced the municipal code provision that allows the city to waive tap installation when minimum billing per unit is implemented. Council members said the arrangement should be revisited if the use of the building changes or if vacancies prompt construction that would trigger code compliance.
The motion was recorded as passing on a roll-call vote; the clerk recorded affirmative votes for Calvert, Brown, Waters and Jones. The council instructed staff to document the city recorder’s explanation in the minutes and to monitor any future structural or occupancy changes that would require separate meters.
The council’s action modifies the enforcement approach for this property only; it does not change the underlying code language and staff indicated the city retains authority to require separate taps if and when building conditions or occupancy change.
