Wellsville council amends code so outside-city water customers pay same base rate as residents

The Wellsville City Council voted Jan. 21 to amend its municipal code governing water service so customers outside the city limits will generally pay the same base water rate as city residents unless the council finds a specific, justifiable reason to charge more.

Scott, a city staff member addressing the council, explained the legal constraint: "We are currently charging them double the rate because they live outside city limits... We're changing the code so that we are able to to charge them the same amount of rate." The amendment updates Title 8, Public Utilities, chapter 1 (water use and service), Article C, Section 1b, the city said during the hearing.

During the public hearing several residents and council members questioned whether the city could still impose higher connection or impact fees. Diane Rowdy asked, "Do we charge people more connection fee outside of the city limits?" Scott answered that impact fees and connection fees are distinct and that the council can consider pumping costs or other mitigating circumstances as justification for differing charges.

Council and members of the public discussed policy goals and constraints: staff noted only a handful of long-standing hookups are outside the city, and the amendment is intended primarily to correct an ongoing double-rate for those customers and to provide a consistent rule for future requests. A council motion to amend Title 8 carried; the transcript records one dissenting vote but does not identify the dissenting member by name.

Councilmembers emphasized that the city retains discretion to refuse to sell water outside the city limits and can evaluate future hookups case-by-case with consideration for costs such as pumping or new infrastructure. The staff presentation also noted the city may require annexation as a policy lever when negotiating future water service agreements.

Next steps: the amended code language will be finalized and published with staff guidance on how the council will evaluate "mitigating circumstances" such as pumping costs or additional infrastructure burdens.