Millville work session trims hydrant-withdrawal penalty language after solicitor flags $2,000 court cap

City staff introduced an ordinance at the Oct. 2 work session to regulate bulk withdrawal of water from city fire hydrants, create a permitted fill option and impose fines for unauthorized use.

The municipal administrator described repeated incidents of tanker trucks attaching to hydrants and taking large volumes of unattended water, which staff say lowers downstream pressure and can introduce sediment into other customers' systems. "If you're caught doing it at a hydrant or without a permit, it's $1,500 in fines," the presenter said, noting the draft language but adding that the solicitor identified a municipal-court jurisdictional cap of $2,000. The city solicitor and administrator agreed to adjust the ordinance language to keep enforcement in municipal court while allowing increased penalties for repeat offenses within that statutory framework.

Commissioners and staff said the city will pair the permitting approach with a courtesy-notice letter to current vendors and clarified plans to create a streamlined pay-to-fill location to discourage illegal withdrawals. The work session did not record any formal vote; staff said the ordinance will be edited to reflect the solicitor's guidance and brought back for formal consideration.