Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vernonia adopts water-leak ordinance giving staff authority to adjust bills and suspend service after repeated leaks
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 946 to clarify responsibility for leaks, allow billing adjustments for qualifying winter leaks, and authorize shutting off water accounts after about 31 days if wasting continues.
The Vernonia City Council adopted Ordinance 946 to codify a water-leak procedure: the ordinance clarifies who is responsible for repairs up to the meter, allows residential sewer-consumption adjustments when winter leaks are repaired and grants staff enforcement authority, including meter shutdown after roughly 31 days of uncorrected wasteful use.
"After whatever, 31 days or the next billing cycle and it's still there, no — we're shutting and locking your water meter until you fix it," staff said during the presentation, describing the enforcement step for persistent leaks.
Staff told council the measure resolves prior inconsistent practice on billing adjustments and will prevent open-ended bills when leaks continue. Council moved and passed the ordinance; it will take effect in 30 days.
