John Scarffe, Central City. The Central City Council approved the first reading of amendments to an ordinance concerning the service fees and maintenance responsibility for fire suppression lines at the regular meeting at 7 p.m., March 3, at the Central City Town Hall. The ordinance would amend the Municipal Code to adopt a flat monthly service fee for fire suppression service lines for any size line instead of different monthly fees for lines of different sizes. 

The ordinance also allocates responsibility for maintenance and repair of fire suppression lines to property owners. Currently, the Municipal Code imposes a $10 monthly fire suppression service fee plus a $30 monthly capital improvement fee for 4-inch lines and a $20 fee plus a $60 monthly capital improvement fee for 6-inch fire lines, according to background. 

The code makes the City responsible for water service lines between the curb stop and the corporation stop for commercial and multi-family properties and for the lines between a property line and the corporation stop for single-family detached units and does not differentiate between general water service lines and fire lines, which often are separate.

The City completed a commercial property inspection in December 2019 and found line sizes ranging from two to eight inches, according to background. The City staff proposes simplifying the fee structure, making the fees encompass all sizes of fire lines and make the fees more affordable for City residents.

“Allocating responsibility for the maintenance and repair of fire suppression lines, which are usually separate from the general water service lines, helps limit the City’s liability for such costs,” according to background. The fees are designed to cover actual costs. 

According to the ordinance, effective April 1, 2020, a fire suppression service fee will be charged each month to all customers with fire suppression lines licensed by the code. Charges range from $4 for residential to $50 for a four-inch line.

During a work session at 6 p.m. before the March 3 meeting, Public Utilities Manager Jack Beard explained the ordinance amendments to the Council. “Basically, we have commercial district buildings that have fire suppression systems,” he said. He is proposing annual fees, because annually they have to be tested by a state inspector. 

The amendments will recoup the cost and clarifies language in four different sections, Beard said. Councilor Jack Hidahl asked for definitions because people aren’t familiar with corporation stop and curb stop. City Manager Daniel Miera said the definitions are in Article 1, 13-1-20. 

Beard said that language could be added or make reference to it. Hidahl objected to the requirement that the customer shall further ensure that the connection to the line is free of material. “That’s a real problem for the homeowner. It takes specialized equipment, and not the average home owner has it.” 

Hidahl said they are in the middle of the street, and the resident cannot safeguard those. It’s reasonable to ask the city to take care of that.

Beard said that what they run into more often is trash dumped on it. Mayor Jeremy Fey said he does not see that as below ground. Regarding the section on landowner responsibility, Hidahl said he assumes landowner responsibility would be from the curb stop to the property. “I think we should have one standard for residences and businesses.”

Councilor Judy Laratta asked how the businesses feel about it. Miera said they can notify those who have fire suppression systems. After much discussion, Miera suggested clarifying language on page 2 as to what the intent is and as far as not restricting access to the line connection. They will bring that back, but he suggested the Council approve first reading tonight and then make the changes.

Hidahl agreed that the Council should adopt it, but not as amended, and amend it on the second reading.

During the regular meeting, Beard proposed the amendments to the ordinance as discussed in the work session to implement a flat service fee for fire suppression lines and place maintenance ad ownership with the property owner. Mayor Fey said they will make some additions and language adjustments. The Council approved the first reading.  

(Originally published in the March 19, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)