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Chula board sets new water and sewer tap fees; staff to draft ordinances
Summary
The Chula Board of Aldermen voted 3-0 to set a $1,500 water tap fee and a $1,300 sewer tap fee and directed the city clerk to draft ordinances for approval at the next meeting. Councilors also discussed EPA lead-service-line survey requirements and a new sewer permit effective May 1.
The Chula Board of Aldermen voted 3-0 on March 11 to set the city's water tap fee at $1,500 and the sewer tap fee at $1,300, and instructed City Clerk Ann Hamilton to draft ordinances for formal consideration at the board's next meeting.
Why it matters: The fee change responds to current material and labor costs for tap installations and will be codified by ordinance if adopted at the next regular meeting. The board's action establishes upfront charges residents will face when connecting to city water and sewer lines.
Alderman Benny Simpson moved the fee change and Alderman Randy Hamilton seconded; the motion carried 3-0. City Clerk Ann Hamilton was directed to prepare ordinance language and present it at the board's April meeting for formal adoption.
The board also discussed regulatory work tied to water service. Kent Spainhour, who presented the water and sewer report, said the city had no discharge reported for March but had a discharge in February and that he submitted paperwork for January and February. Spainhour said he will gather information on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements for the lead service line survey and that a new sewer permit is expected to take effect May 1. He added that Rich Marrow did not have additional information about the upcoming lead-service-line report.
City Clerk Ann Hamilton said she will wait for Spainhour to speak with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before compiling the lead-service-line information she has and will resend surveys to customers who did not respond to the first round of outreach. Hamilton reported that 10 late fees were assessed to customers on Feb. 28 and that three customers recorded high usage.
No formal vote or ordinance was completed at the March 11 meeting; the fee-setting motion was a board direction to prepare ordinances for the next meeting.
