River Bend council adopts water department rule change and notary policy

The River Bend Town Council unanimously approved a revision to the Water Resources Department Policy Manual and adopted amendments to the Notary Public Service Policy at its Oct. 16 regular session.

Town Manager stated the Water Resources change removes language that previously allowed staff to waive late fees for certain accounts. The manager said the University School of Government advised that the fee-waiver practice was unconstitutional and that the town attorney agreed; the council adopted the amendment without recorded dissent. Councilman Leonard moved to adopt the Water Resources Department Policy Manual amendments.

Separately, the Town Manager reported that the proposed Notary Public Service Policy amendments presented at the prior work session had no additional changes. Councilman Leonard moved to adopt the Notary Public Service Policy amendments, and the council approved that motion unanimously.

The council minutes do not record an exact numerical roll-call for either vote; the record describes both motions as carried unanimously. The amendments are administrative and procedural in nature; the Water Resources change specifically eliminates the previously allowed late-fee waiver provision but does not alter fee schedules or rates as published elsewhere.

The council also received unrelated reports at the meeting, including the police department's monthly statistics and the finance director's September financial statement. The council did not identify next steps specific to either policy amendment during the recorded minutes.