Stephens City council approves code changes to water and sewer rules, limits resale and bulk sales

The Stephens City Town Council on June 4 approved changes to the town code that update the definition of public water and sewer systems and approved a first reading to limit resale and bulk water sales and to lower out-of-town water rates to in-town levels.

Councilwoman Regina Swygert-Smith read the ordinance for Chapter 23 by title and Councilman Linden Fravel Jr. moved approval of the first reading; the motion carried with recorded ayes from Vice Mayor Nauman and council members Bowers, Fravel, Hollis, Swygert-Smith and Thatcher. Swygert-Smith then read the ordinance again for a second reading and Fravel moved approval; that motion also carried with the same recorded vote.

The council also considered an ordinance to "limit the resale of water and sewer services, to eliminate bulk/wholesale water sales, [and] lower out of town water rates to match those of in-town rates," which Swygert-Smith read by title for its first reading. She moved approval of the first reading; the motion carried with recorded ayes from the same six council members.

Why it matters: The Chapter 23 amendment clarifies what the town classifies as its public water and sewer systems; the Chapter 22 measure, if adopted in later readings, will restrict private resale of municipally supplied water and eliminate wholesale sales that the council says have existed, and it will reduce the differential previously charged to customers outside town limits. The changes affect any current or prospective bulk purchasers and out-of-town customers and will alter the town's billing rules if finalized.

Council procedure and vote: The minutes record roll-call affirmative votes for each motion. Votes recorded for the ordinance readings list the aye votes as Nauman, Bowers, Fravel, Hollis, Swygert-Smith and Thatcher; no nay or abstentions were recorded. The minutes do not show mayoral votes.

What the record shows not yet decided: The Chapter 22 ordinance was presented and approved only for first reading on June 4; the text read by title indicates the council's intent but additional readings or details (exact rate schedules, effective dates, and implementation steps) were not specified in the minutes. The minutes do not include the final ordinance text, the ordinance numbers, or an effective date.

Next steps: The council scheduled additional budget hearings for June 18 and June 25; the minutes do not specify when the Chapter 22 measure will return for further readings or final adoption.