Board weighs ordinance to sell water outside town limits, debates meter deposit and late fees

Heidi summarized attorney revisions to the proposed ordinance allowing the town to sell water outside its limits and said the wording must reference a designated service area rather than just "town limits." She also outlined the options for an up-front charge, saying the town currently has a $250 meter deposit and that the attorney suggested making the deposit refundable in some cases.

Board members debated whether the up-front charge should be called a deposit (to secure meter return) or an activation fee (to generate revenue). One member summarized the current late-fee practice: "Our late fee is you get charged $10 and then 2% on any balance," and the group discussed whether that structure amounted to duplicative penalties. The board asked Heidi to revise ordinance language, clarify meter/contract terms (including meter-return charges), and coordinate with the state engineer to update the designated service-area map before moving to public hearings.