SILVERHILL, Alabama — The Silverhill Town Council voted at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19 to amend its ordinance on water rates and tap fees, including setting fees for commercial properties, in preparation for a development coming to the town in 2021.
In 2018, the council voted on a $1 per year increase on in-town and out-of-town water fees for the first 2,000 gallons for residential properties over a three-year period. This year is the final year of the increase, going from $23.79 to $24.79 for in-town customers and from $26.05 to $27.05 for out-of-town customers.
At its meeting Jan. 4, the council decided to set fees at $2,000 for the installation of 2-inch water lines on commercial properties, plus the cost of materials, with a tap fee of $1,200.
For 3-inch water lines, the fee was set at $5,000, plus the cost of materials, with a tap fee of $1,600.
In a phone interview after the Jan. 4 meeting, Mayor Jared Lyles said the action was taken to add fees for commercial properties since a commercial development is coming to Silverhill in 2021 that will require the installation of both 3-inch and 2-inch lines.
During a brief meeting held Jan. 19, the council voted to suspend the rules for immediate passage, then voted unanimously to approve the proposed changes.
A $350 deposit fee for residential and commercial properties over 2 inches was also added to the ordinance approved at the Jan. 19 meeting.
Lyles was not present for the meeting which was presided over by Mayor Pro Team Steve Brooks. All other council members were present.
Aside from approving minutes from the Jan. 4 meeting and financial expenditures for Jan. 19, the council took no other action during the meeting, which lasted less than 5 minutes.
During a work session held before the meeting, the council received reports from Police Chief Kenneth Hempfleng, Fire Chief Josh Rice and Central Baldwin Chamber representative Mary deLaunay.
They also discussed a proposed Municipal Debris Removal Fund, but took no action on the matter during the Jan. 19 regular meeting.
