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Statham staff propose hydrant‑meter rental ordinance with $2,000 deposits, tampering penalties
Summary
Public works presented a draft ordinance to rent hydrant meters to contractors and charge commercial water rates; the draft sets a $2,000 deposit per meter (refundable if returned undamaged), establishes usage charges and forfeiture rules, and would allow citations for tampering or illegal reconnections.
Statham City’s public‑works staff presented a draft ordinance March 4 to authorize rental of hydrant meters, set deposits, and create enforcement options for tampering with the water system.
Head of Public Works Brett Day said the city purchased hydrant meters to make temporary water service available to contractors and others, and proposed charging commercial rates for usage. Under the draft, renters would pay a $2,000 deposit per meter; deposits would be refunded when a meter is returned in the same condition it left. If a renter keeps a meter beyond an allowable period (staff discussed a three‑month threshold), the city could forfeit the deposit and charge ongoing usage fees.
Day also said the ordinance would cover unlawful reconnections or tampering—instances in which a cut lock or removed curve was reinstalled by a customer or contractor—and would give the city the authority to issue citations for those actions.
Staff described operational details: a rental application and ID verification form, weekly usage charges (staff discussed a $1‑per‑week usage item in the draft), and forfeiture rules tied to prolonged retention or damage. The ordinance will be circulated for review and refined before any formal voting session.
What’s next: staff will distribute the draft form and ordinance language to council members for review; no vote was taken on March 4.
