Afton council advances ordinance requiring annexation for outside water service, denies individual hookup

The Afton Town Council on Nov. 14 passed Ordinance 644 on first reading, establishing that properties must generally be annexed into the town before receiving Afton water service and allowing only limited discretionary sales when surplus water exists.

Town Attorney Dale Cottam presented the ordinance and told the council that it would amend Town Code provision 8-3-01 to require annexation for water service to properties outside the town. Council Member Tom Davis moved to pass Ordinance 644 on first reading; Council Member Barbara Sessions seconded. Council Member Rick Merritt voted against the motion while Mayor Joel Neuenschwander voted in favor; the motion carried on first reading.

Earlier in the meeting resident Lyniece McKim requested a water hookup for a family member at a property outside the town limits but located adjacent to a town water line. Town Attorney Cottam noted that current Town Code directs the council to review out-of-town water sales on a case-by-case basis. Council Member Rick Merritt moved to deny the hookup request, Council Member Barbara Sessions seconded, and the motion carried.

Council Member Merritt later moved to place a moratorium on selling water outside the town limits; Council Member Sessions seconded. After further discussion Council Members Tom Davis and Barbara Sessions and Mayor Neuenschwander voted no and Council Member Merritt voted yes, so the moratorium motion failed.

The ordinance language presented to the council states that when annexation is not possible or practical and surplus water is available, the council may in its discretion sell water to users outside the corporate limits, but no sale may be approved unless the property owners agree to annexation if and when requested by the town. The measure will return for further consideration at a subsequent meeting as the Council moves forward with ordinance drafting and any required follow-up steps.