Charges for not getting new water meters take effect in November
Mansfield residents who have not yet replaced their old water meters will get a reprieve.
Each customer account using a water meter reading in cubic feet instead of gallons and installed prior to May 1, 2020, will be assessed $75 a month for delinquent fees, starting Nov. 1.
Mansfield City Council approved changes to water charges at its Tuesday meeting. Part of the reason for the delay in implementing late fees is because the city has a depleted stock of new meters.
"If you don't have the supplies in, you can make sure that they're not charged for something that is our fault," Councilwoman Stephanie Zader said.
City residents will see an increase in tap fees, which will go from $310 for three-fourths of an inch to $600.
The fee for a 1-inch tap will increase from $430 to $913, along with a 1.5-inch tap going from $750 to $1,390 and a 2-inch tap going from $1,870 to $2,423.
Council delayed voting at its last meeting because Councilwoman Laura Burns, the bill's sponsor, was absent.
Officials looked at other cities that are close to Mansfield both in proximity and size in determining the increase.
Friday meeting at Liberty Park to discuss skate park
Councilman Aurelio Diaz told his colleagues about a meeting at 2 p.m. Friday at Liberty Park. The topic of discussion will be the possibility of having a skate park.
Last Thursday, about 60 people attended a public forum at Liberty Park to offer ideas about what to do there. Liberty Park had the last of the city's public pools. It closed in 2021.
In a public hearing, held before the regular council meeting, Adrian Ackerman, community development and housing director, gave an update on the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) for July 1, 2022, through June 30.
She said the report dealt largely with Community Development Block Grants and HOME funding.
HOME is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households.
In other business
In other business, council:
Honored Kim Vandayburg upon her retirement from the Mansfield Police Department. She devoted 31 years to the city, including the last 12 as the parking control officer. Council President David Falquette called her "the most pleasant person that I've encountered downtown."
Vandayburg began her career with the city as a switchboard operator before transferring to the human resources department. From there, she transferred to a secretarial position in the police department.
Transferred two parcels of property beside Lot No. 1731 on West Third Street to the Richland County Land Bank.
Authorized a then and now certificate for $4,000 to Felty-Heinlen Architects & Planners for work done on fire stations.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield City Council delays delinquent charges for water meters
