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Three Forks council adopts policy to put new tenant utility accounts in landowner or written designee's name
Summary
The Three Forks City Council adopted Resolution #463-2025, directing that new utility accounts opened in tenant names be placed in the landowner’s name or a written designee effective Jan. 1, 2026; the measure also clarifies deposit and notice procedures after council amendments and passed unanimously.
Mayor Randy Johnston read Resolution #463-2025 into the record and the council voted to adopt the policy, with amendments, at its Nov. 25 meeting.
Councilman Gene Townsend moved to approve the resolution with changes to item #5, substitution of the term “landowner or written designee,” and insertion of the word “new” into section 4.a; Councilman Ed Tharp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
City Clerk Crystal Turner explained how sewer charges will be calculated for accounts placed in a landowner’s name: “Every winter, we look at the water usage of December, January, February and March…We take these months’ usage, average it and that becomes the sewer rate every July.” Turner added that the city will continue its current practice of adjusting sewer averages annually so rates reflect usage in arrears.
During a staff exchange, Councilman Garret Buchanan asked whether late or disconnect notices would continue to be copied to property managers; City Attorney Susan Swimley recommended allowing the landowner to designate, in writing, who will receive notices. That option was incorporated into the adopted language.
Several public commenters raised concerns. Kelly Bugland asked, “If the water/sewer accounts go into the landowner’s name only, and also asked how the sewer averages/charge be accounted for?” Crystal Turner replied the sewer charge would follow the winter water average and be updated each July. Mickie Imberi objected to item #5 in the draft resolution unless the account is entirely in the landowner’s name and worried she would not know of delinquencies until a lien was filed; staff said the city’s current transfer-and-notify handling would remain and the adopted change lets owners name a written designee to receive notices.
The resolution codifies an unwritten city practice while clarifying that the new rule applies to new accounts effective Jan. 1, 2026. It directs that deposits be held on record for water/sewer accounts in tenant names and that the municipality use the winter-water average (Dec–Mar) to establish sewer charges that are reviewed each July.
The council did not record separate penalties in the adopted policy beyond existing collections procedures; City Attorney Swimley’s written-designee language was added to preserve notification options for owners who rely on property managers or other agents.
