Council adopts ordinance adding leak‑mitigation shutoff and written notice process for utility customers

The Centerfield City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2026‑02, which modifies the city’s utility billing enforcement procedures by adding a new leak‑mitigation shutoff process.

Dennis, a city staff member, explained the change to the ordinance: when staff can identify a potential leak they will provide a written notice to property owners “giving them a time frame to get it fixed,” rather than treating all shutoffs as simple waste or nonpayment cases. Dennis said the requirement to provide written notice was added after staff heard from a resident who had experienced an unnoticed leak and would have preferred a notification.

A council member related a personal experience about an unnoticed line break, and Council discussion focused on balancing customer protections with the need to limit losses to utility funds. After discussion, the council took a motion to adopt the ordinance.

Motion and outcome: the council recorded a motion to adopt Ordinance 2026‑02 (moved by Councilman Pickett; seconded by Councilman Childs). The chair called for the question; members indicated their support and the motion passed without recorded opposition.

What happens next: the ordinance change amends the city’s utility enforcement procedures to include notification and a repair timeframe; staff will implement the process and incorporate it into customer‑service workflows.