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Commission adopts water service connect/disconnect policy update (Resolution 3430)
Summary
The Atchison City Commission adopted Resolution 3430 to clarify procedures for connecting water for active construction, inspecting properties disconnected for over one year, and a two-step appeals process reviewed by the city manager and then district court if needed.
City manager Mark Westhoff presented Resolution 3430, an update to the city’s water service connect and disconnect policy. Westhoff said the ordinance clarifies how to allow water service on sites actively under construction or renovation when the applicant demonstrates freeze‑prevention measures, establishes inspection procedures for properties disconnected more than a year, formalizes emergency shutoff and meter‑tampering protocols, and creates an appeals process that routes first to the city manager and then to the district court if disagreements persist.
Commissioners asked whether the city attorney had reviewed the changes; Westhoff said the attorney reviewed the policy and recommended updates had been made. After discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt Resolution 3430; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Westhoff said staff believes they can implement the clarified procedures and that the policy is intended to make the process more transparent for both staff and property owners.
The resolution directs staff to implement the clarified inspection steps and the new appeals flow; any further changes will return to the commission under a future agenda item.
