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Sunman council advances 811 enforcement ordinance to first reading
Summary
Council approved a first reading for Ordinance 20-26-10 to enforce local compliance with the 811 call-before-you-dig system, giving town designees authority to issue stop-work orders and recover costs for damages.
The Sunman Town Council voted to present Ordinance 20-26-10 for its first reading, a local enforcement measure tied to the 811 call-before-you-dig system. The ordinance would authorize town designees — including the town marshal or utility staff — to issue stop-work orders when excavation occurs without an active 811 ticket and to impose penalties or recover costs if damages occur.
Supporters said the step is meant to protect public water and sewer infrastructure after several instances of work without proper 811 notifications. The marshal described prior incidents where markings expired or excavation proceeded without current tickets and said fines and cost recovery provisions in state guidance can be substantial; council discussion emphasized both public-safety and cost-recovery rationales. The ordinance text in the packet lists stop-work authority, administrative penalties, cost recovery for emergency response and repairs, and lien authority up to amounts allowed by law.
Council members moved and seconded approval to advance the ordinance; because it is an ordinance the council agreed it would require two readings. The motion to advance the ordinance to first reading carried with no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.
