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Wishek council adopts $250 first-hour fee for opening frozen water lines after ban fails
Summary
The Wishek City Council voted March 3 to charge $250 for the first hour and $50 per hour thereafter to open frozen water lines, effective March 4, after a separate motion to discontinue opening lines failed 4-1.
The Wishek City Council voted March 3 to charge residents $250 for the first hour and $50 for each additional hour when city crews open frozen water lines, an ordinance-like fee set to take effect March 4.
The council adopted the fee on a motion by Councilperson Lipp, seconded by Councilperson Welder, which passed on a 5-0 roll call vote. The action followed earlier debate about whether the city should stop opening frozen water lines entirely.
Councilperson Opsahl had moved to discontinue the practice of opening frozen lines, a motion seconded by Councilperson Roth. That motion failed on a recorded roll call—Opsahl was the lone yes; Roth, Welder, Lipp and Eiseman voted no—leaving the council to adopt the stepped-fee approach instead.
Council members described the item as a response to recurring winter freeze-ups and the operational burden on city crews. The minutes do not record additional procedural steps (such as an ordinance number or a public hearing) tied to the fee; the motion was presented and approved during the meeting.
Residents affected by frozen services should expect the fee to be applied beginning March 4, 2025. The minutes do not specify exemptions, payment sources, or details for hardship cases.
