Dublin City Council approved changes to the city’s fee schedule during Monday night’s regular meeting when city staff pointed out some inconsistencies that needed to be addressed.
City Secretary Melissa Minor led the agenda item saying that about 75 percent of the city’s 120 businesses were paying wastewater rates that didn’t coincide with the city’s plan. Council members were provided a few examples, along with the rates approved for commercial wastewater customers.
Minor noted that some businesses were using more than what they were allowed in the division they were in, some were using less and some were on fees not reflected in the fee schedule at all. She also noted the vast majority of Dublin businesses will fall in the small service category.
Minor said she wanted to start billing customers correctly in an effort to be fair and address an ongoing issue that hadn’t been noticed.
Council members were agreeable. Minor reported that she would send letters to commercial customers announcing the issue and start the correct fees in February.
“[The city] might lose money, but want to make sure we’re doing this correctly,” said Minor.
City Manager Bobby Mendez also noted that residential city customers with a well seeking sewer and trash service had to pay $200 to join up, when the fee is $120 for all other residential customers. He asked that all residential charges be made to $120 for consistency.
Mendez also asked that a rate be added for cleaning storm drains for customers with one on their property. Mendez said the matter came up recently with the city helping a property owner with a cleanout that was not the city’s responsibility. Cleanouts of the large drains take the involvement of city workers and equipment and can potentially take several hours. Mendez said they called local businesses who offer the service and were told the cost was $600 per hour. Mendez said he and Public Works Director Cory James suggested cutting that rate to $300 per hour and only in cases where the cleanout exceeds two hours.
Council approved all fee schedule matters presented.
Trash rates will also be going up slightly after the Council voted to absorb 50 percent of the 7.37 percent rate increase from Waste Connections. The increase will translate to an additional 80 cents per month on the average residential bill. Waste Connections attributed the rate increase to standard inflation although it was noted that the Weatherford transfer station was closing.
Council also voted to proceed with pursuing the purchase of new Pierce fire engine to replace a current truck that was built in 1995. Dublin Volunteer Firefighter John Johnson reported that the city has to keep two engines since one must be in town when they go to assist with emergencies in the county. He also added that the new engine will be better equipped for rescue operations and can spray water while rolling.
The build time was estimated at 14-16 months and the first payment will not be due until a year after the contract is signed meaning that payments may not have to start for a couple of years. Council members inquired if the DVFD budget can handle the annual payments ($22,000 on a 15-year repayment schedule). It was reported that the purchase would yield less in equipment costs and that grants are available to assist. Johnson felt confident that the 15-year time table would work for them.
Council members also approved the purchase of airport fuel pumps , which will allow them to offer both SWIFT Aviation fuel and 100 low-lead with a credit card reader, meaning that pilots can get the fuel without an attendant needing to help. The purchase is being made through a 50/50 Rural Airport Maintenance Program (RAMP) grant.
Council members also approved a contract with WWC Enterprises to perform aeration improvement at the wastewater treatment plant for $19,260.34. The majority of this cost is coming from remaining funds in a Community Development Block Grant, and it was reported that the Public Works budget could cover the rest.
Also approved was a software upgrade to cloudbased storage with Tyler Technologies after Mendez reported that the city would likely have to switch eventually anyway and that switching now would lead to more service for city staff and lower costs on server upgrades.
The upgrade will cost an additional $864 per year with billing for the cloud not starting until it is online.
The council also approved a purchasing policy for the sake of having ‘clear-cut’ guidelines, 2022 proposed city holidays and Mac McKinnon as the representative on the Erath County Appraisal Board.