By: Lydia Crawley The Parsons Advocate
The Town of Davis had a first reading of a new Tap Service Fee ordinance. Under the ordinance, once a tap for water or sewer is installed by the Town, the customer will begin being charged at the minimum usage charge, whether the tap is connected to a dwelling or not.
“The minute we put the tap in, we’re going to start charging you for that service for that line, sewer or water, the minimum fee, every month, whether you have it hooked up to your house or not,” Tomson said.
Currently, the Town charges at a minimum usage charge of 3,000 gallons a month, Tomson said. Over 3,000 gallons, customers are charged at a usage rate.
“The minimum usage is 3,000 gallons,” Tomson said. “So regardless whether you use one gallon or 3,000 gallons, you pay a minimum rate. If you go over 3,000 gallons, your rate goes up.”
The minimum 3,000 gallon rate is in addition to the charge to install to the tap, Tomson said.
Customers who have their taps connected and have their services disconnected during the winter are still able to, Tomson said. The new ordinance does not affect the ability of those individuals who disconnect services in winter from doing so. The ordinance only effects those with new installations that are not connected to a dwelling.
The ordinance, according to Tomson is designed to encourage citizens to not install taps far in advance of need. Taps that are currently installed and not connected prior to enactment of the ordinance are grandfathered in and will not be subject to the fee.
The Town of Davis also approved the second reading of a new ordinance that would update the rate when boring under a road or street to install utilities for customers. The ordinance change was needed to reflect the increased cost of boring under the streets and roads that can cost the Town between $1,000 to $4,000 depending on the circumstances, according to Mayor Al Tomson. The ordinance would allow the Town to be reimbursed for the cost of the boring. Passage of the measure still requires permission from the State to bore under roadways.
