Committee approves permissive bill allowing local ordinances for sewer-system reserves

Senator Dave Wallace (District 22) presented a permissive bill allowing local governments to adopt ordinances or rules requiring reasonable reserves for maintenance, replacement and repair of small community sewer systems that were installed under Arkansas Department of Health standards. Wallace said the bill "doesn't make any county, any municipality do anything" but provides a mechanism for localities to plan financially to avoid system failures.

Wallace said the measure was vetted with the Association of Counties, the Municipal League, the Department of Health and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, and that their comments were incorporated. He told the committee the authority would help local governments get "in front of the problem" instead of waiting for state enforcement after a system falls out of compliance.

No opposition was reported at the committee hearing. The committee passed the bill by voice vote.