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Council hears water and sewer update: delinquencies, shutoffs and service-line inventory
Summary
Staff reported seven accounts owing more than $300 (letters issued), two recent shutoffs, payment agreements in place totaling roughly $3,500, and upcoming service-line inventory work required by the Oregon Health Authority that will sample about 20% of service lines.
City staff told the council that seven sewer/water accounts currently owe more than $300 and have been sent 20-day notices; if accounts do not resolve the city warned shutoffs could occur. Staff said payment agreements cover two accounts totaling about $3,500, with one agreement for $970 in process, and that collections so far total roughly $1,736.
Staff explained operational details: five new water/sewer accounts required $150 deposits that are credited back after a year of satisfactory payment, crews hooked two new services (Clifford and Ajax) and installed additional water boxes to serve future connections, and interceptor tanks have required more frequent pump-outs costing roughly $700 each. "We've been pumping them a lot," Staff member said, noting the pump-out cost and the operational burden.
On public-health compliance, staff said the Oregon Health Authority requires a service-line inventory to identify materials (lead, copper, galvanized, etc.) and that the city will need to sample about 20% of service connections; staff said meter-box inspections will let crews identify pipe types without entering private homes and that an October deadline applies for portions of the work.
The council did not vote on new utility policy at the meeting, but members asked for continued monitoring and for staff to proceed with required OHA inventory steps and meter/sampling plans.
