Changes made to Water Tap Ordinance during first reading

The Basin Town Council meeting was held Oct. 10 and Ordinance 17, regarding water tap fees, passed with changes on its first reading.

Town Attorney Kent Richins told the council there was an area he would like to discuss at this meeting. “Essentially, what Carl [Councilman Olson] brought up is that we will charge a $400 flat fee for relocation of existing services and water tap fee for a new service. We would then charge for labor and materials in addition to that.” 

He noted that that council had discussed where the cost of the labor and materials would come from. The town will have a rate sheet. Richins said the sheet could be done by policy or resolution. He would like the council’s thoughts. Councilman Brent Godfrey asked if policy or resolution would be easier to change in case of increases for inflation without having to have the change read three times. Richins recommended that changes to the rates be done in a council meeting. Typically, that could be done by resolution. 

Mayor CJ Duncan pointed out that the hourly rate would need to be adjusted when employees receive a raise. After discussion, the council decided to review the rate sheet once a year. Richins and Town Administrator Deaun Tigner will work on the rate sheet and bring it back to the council for the second reading on October 24. 

Richins said the other part of Ordinance 17 he would like the council to review is the language for abandoning a tap. 

“The words I used for that were ‘eliminating from service in a manner that is determined as permanent by the town.” This could be with foam, sand or a tap lock. Duncan said the ordinance could stay the same, but the policy should read, “[…] such as fill the curb stop, manual locking system.” 

PUBLIC WORKS 

Town foreman Mike Dellos was working on a severe water break and unable to attend the meeting. Incoming Town Foreman Tony Harrison gave his public works report. He said he had been working on a report for the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] regarding the town’s lead and copper lines. There are 140 lines that are not lead and 502 lines that are currently unknown. He anticipates that regulations will change, and the town will have to check a percentage of the lines each year until there are no unknowns. 

BUILDING PERMITS 

As the council reviewed the building permits for approval, Duncan commented, “Even though [permits] have been signed [by the town’s Building Inspector, Mike Dellos] people should wait until the building permit has been approved before they start construction. The code says they have to have the permit approved and in place.” 

He continued that people need to be aware they are not to proceed with construction until they have the permit in-hand. Permits are approved at council meetings and are then available to pick up at town hall. 

The council approved permits that evening for Getzfried and Kuhnke. 

OTHER BUSINESS

• The council was invited by a representative of the Basin Chamber to attend the Military Appreciation Night at the Riverside Football game on Friday. 

• Town resident Gina Wrigley proposed a plan to catch up an outstanding utility bill at a home she and her boyfriend Tony Thompson want to move in to. All utilities had been turned off for non-payment in April. Duncan noted that the bill was substantial and had been in the arrears for quite some time. After a long discussion, the council voted to accept a payment plan so that the electricity could be restored. Water will not be restored at this time. 

• A written report for the Electrical Department was included in the council’s package. 

• Chief McClure gave a written and verbal department report.

• Tigner provided a written report. At the meeting, she added verbal comments: she met with three people the day before from Ayres Associates, a company that supports the EPA’s Brownfield Grant program. They toured the town hall and rec district portion of the building. Ayres will look for grants to help with abatement. She also noted that work-service orders will no longer be handwritten; instead, they will be done through the town’s software program. 

• Duncan gave the Rec District update. He said there was a new director. The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the town hall. 

• Duncan also gave the Activity Committee update. He is hoping to set a meeting so Home for the Holidays planning can start. 

• Town resident Kenny Lynch spoke twice during the meeting. The first was about the Wrigley request for a payment program. The second time he asked who the new rec district director was. He was told Cash Duncan. 

• AVI provided the 90% completion plan for the sewer project.