It may be getting cheaper for Marysville residents to water their lawns.
At Monday night’s meeting, Marysville City Council passed a first reading of legislation to create an outdoor watering credit for residents who do not have a second water meter to measure outdoor water use.
Marysville bills residents for the water they consume. Additionally, in most cases, the city uses the consumption number and applies it to the residents’ sewer bill.
In the years past, residents with special outdoor watering needs, such as irrigating flowers, lawns or gardens, filling a swimming pool, or have other special outside water needs could have a second water meter installed to measure outdoor use or could apply for a credit that would reduce the sewer bill because water used for those purposes does not enter the city wastewater treatment system.
Marysville Finance Director Justin Nahvi explained that earlier this year council did away with a summer sewer credit. He said the city moved to a new billing system and the new system could not handle the summer sewer credit, so it was eliminated.
Nahvi told council that “as a replacement” the utilities department developed an application process for a credit. He said that for existing homes, the application is “based on historical usage.” Residents at a newly built home could also apply for a standard credit so they could water sod or tend to other outside needs.
Councilman Nevin Taylor called the one-page application, “a very simple form, a very useful form.”
He said the matter was vetted by the city’s finance committee which is “100% behind the idea of the concept.”
Taylor said he spends significant time each day watering flowers. He said he feels the outdoor watering credit “fills a void that we are missing.”
A second reading and public comment on the legislation is scheduled for the July 8 council meeting.
“I definitely want input,” Taylor said.
The councilman said that based on public comment, he would consider waiving a third reading to speed up the process so homeowners could take advantage of the credit yet this year.
In other business:
– Council heard a first reading of changes to the city Property Maintenance Code.
The code, which will apply, “to all existing residential and nonresidential structures and buildings,” will enable the city to address interior structure complaints, set minimum standards for maintenance and repairs, create a nuisance identification and abatement process and establish an appeals process.
Code Enforcement Officer Zach Andrews told council that in many cases, the city’s “hands are tied” when it comes to code enforcement. Officials have said the proposed legislation would enable the city to more clearly identify and define public nuisances and would establish administrative procedures to enable the city to abate public nuisances and assess the cost of abatement to the property without time consuming litigation.
Andrews stressed the city would not have unfettered access to the interior of homes. He said the new rules governing the interior of a property would be “administered on a complaint driven basis.”
Council member Deborah Groat said it is important for the community to understand that distinction. She said there could be fear that city officials will be able to enter any home and make determinations about a resident’s housekeeping abilities.
“That is way beyond what this legislation is doing,” Groat said.
Andrews explained that if the city receives a complaint from the resident, inspectors could go into the home. Otherwise, the city does not have the authority to enter a home without court order.
Council member Alan Seymour said the code could also be used to have the owners of historic buildings maintain the structure.
“We don’t want these historical homes to deteriorate,” Seymour said.
Mayor and Council President J.R. Rausch said he has heard from one landlord, worried tenants will use the proposed code as a way to complain.
“Obviously, we are going to use judgement,” Rausch said.
– Council approved an ordinance adopting the city flag.
According to the legislation, “the flag shall consist of five green and white alternating stripes on a swallowtail flag which mimic Ohio’s state flag. The large lime-green triangle includes the Marysville City logo in a white disk. The green stripes reinforce the city’s slogan, ‘Where the grass is greener.’”
At council work session earlier this month, Anna Krutowskis, Senior Executive Assistant for the City of Marysville, presented the city’s flag committee’s three finalists and asked council members to give her feedback.
Krutowskis said she heard from each council member. She said “the majority of council” selected the first of the committee’s three finalists.
“So did the public,” Krutowskis said, referencing various social media polls.
She added, “there was an overwhelming response in favor of option one.”
City Manager Terry Emery said administration is “comfortable” with the flag recommendation.
“This wasn’t an easy process, but it was a thorough process,” Emery said.
Krutowskis said the committee received 41 flag entries. She said the entries were received from the city as well as some from outside the U.S.
She said the seven-member committee reviewed all of the submissions and selected the three finalists.
Emery said the public did “a phenomenal job.”
Groat said she appreciates the work of the committee and specifically credited Krutowskis.
Council waived the legislation’s third reading, but will continue with a second reading to allow for public comment. Emery said it will take time to have the flag made. It will be raised at an Aug. 10 event celebrating the city bicentennial.