LAUREL HILL — Tensions arose regarding water rates, communication, resident concerns and a local scholarship during a Thursday evening City Council meeting that lasted several hours.
WATER FEE QUESTIONED
City Councilman Scott Moneypenny expressed concern that households outside Laurel Hill city limits are charged a 33 percent fee to use city water. Individuals outside municipal boundaries are not to be charged more than 25 percent, according to the Florida Statutes. Those outside city limits should be charged an amount comparable to those within Laurel Hill’s boundary or be reduced to a legally acceptable maximum fee, Moneypenny said.
“I don’t believe outside our city limits should be different than inside our city limits,” Moneypenny said. “We have to take action on this.”
Councilman Travis Dewrell countered by arguing those households pay no city taxes and therefore an additional charge should remain. However, if the fees exceeded legal limits, immediate changes needed to be made, Dewrell said.
Within the same Florida Statute section, a provision allows municipalities to levy a fee up to 50 percent on non-resident households who use city water or sewage systems. Affected residents must be notified of a public hearing regarding the fee and be offered the opportunity to discuss it.
City Attorney Dan Campbell confirmed such a hearing took place in 2008 when the current fee was set. Therefore, the 33 percent fee was within legal limits.
City water fees for both residents and non-residents haven’t been adjusted since that time, according to Moneypenny. A comprehensive increase might be necessary to maintain adequate functionality of the utility, he added.
The council agreed to look further into the matter and address a possible rate hike once more data was available.
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS
Contacting Laurel Hill City Hall after normal business directs callers to a voicemail and an emergency number. However, at times that number goes unanswered as well, according to Moneypenny.
If the city operates and advertises an emergency line (separate from 911) for after-hours incidents, such as a city water leak, then city officials must be accountable for answering that line, Moneypenny said.
Concerned citizens can contact officials directly if the emergency line is unavailable, Councilwoman Debra Adams said. Moneypenny gave consent to publicly list his contact information through City Hall and its website during an earlier discussion.
Direct contact during such a scenario renders the emergency line redundant, Moneypenny claimed.
While calls might go immediately unanswered, they are responded to in a timely manner during non-business hours due to the city’s small size, according to Dewrell. Having a 24-hour emergency line for city matters wouldn’t be cost effective as an employee would have to be paid for time spent on-call, officials said.
RESIDENT CONCERNS
Damage occurred to a resident's property after a private work truck drove through the owner’s yard in December. The truck was carrying limestone that had been purchased by the city, according to Moneypenny.
The homeowner filed a damage report with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, seeking repairs.
The stone has been stored on an adjacent property owned by the city. Although it is not on the complainant's land, the location has affected the proper flow of garbage trucks and school buses and required them to drive through her property, Moneypenny said.
Mayor Robby Adams said his office was aware of the situation and the responsibility fell to the stone company, not the city.
Recent holidays and rainy weather conditions should be considered when questioning why an immediate repair didn’t take place, Debra Adams said.
Dewrell disagreed and claimed the city shared in responsibility. The city could move the stones to a more suitable location within a matter of hours and explore repairs of the damaged property, he claimed.
Deteriorating road conditions on Skyline Drive were also addressed.
The city has promised solutions to the road’s drainage, flooding and paving problems for years with no results, multiple citizens said. Severe potholes are observed by city workers driving through the area, but met with no action, Moneypenny said.
Issues can’t be addressed if they are not made known to his office, Robby Adams said. Such matters have been addressed by Moneypenny at several council meetings, Dewrell countered.
The debate was closed by Council Chairman Larry Hendren, who requested an assessment of the road be completed to determine the best approach to resolution.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Several votes to appoint a scholarship committee failed due to a range of concerns. Debate over multiple council members serving, mayoral participation and the ability of those outside city limits to be on the committee stalled an agreement.
Further tension came when Dewrell questioned the success of the previous year’s committee, who saw only two students apply for the awards. This sparked a discussion between Dewrell and Debra Adams — a member of the previous committee and a local school teacher.
Ultimately, a committee of three non-officials was nominated.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Debates stretch council meeting for hours