LAPEL — Discussion resumed, but there will be no change to an ordinance requiring all homeowners within in Lapel town limits to pay a $3.05 monthly stormwater fee.
Following complaints at the June 6 meeting, the town council said it would revisit the situation at the June 20 meeting.
Town attorney Ashley Hopper reviewed the ordinance and confirmed the town’s initial stance — that the fee applies to all, including those who were annexed into the town during 2014 and 2015.
The town passed an ordinance in 2018 that stated the fee would apply to all Lapel residents, including those who were not receiving town utilities, beginning in 2019.
The ordinance also stated that those utility services would be provided to residents in the annexed area. A specific plan on when that would happen has not been determined.
“Eventually, we will have utilities out in that area,” town council President Deb Wainscott said. “We are hoping to get some more housing out there, too. So we will have utilities out there, but we don’t have the money to pay for that right now … We’re doing the best we can.”
As was the case at the June 6 meeting, a number of citizens were in attendance at the meeting to voice concerns.
Lapel resident Chad Blake, who lives in an annexed area, suggested the town continue its review of the ordinance to see if some residents are being double-billed — paying fees to both the town and Madison County for the same services.
Blake said he works for a sign shop and part of his job is to understand code of ordinances. His concern was that there might be fees going to the county that should be going to the town.
“There shouldn’t be overlap,” Blake said. “The way (the ordinance) is written, you have either a municipal board or a county board. You don’t have both. If I lived in town, and the person across the road was not annexed, they would pay the county and I would pay the town. That’s the way the ordinance reads.
Blake told the council and Hopper, “I’m not disputing (the fee for the annexed area). I’m saying I think the town should be receiving more money from the county.”
Wainscott said she would have Hopper review the portion of the code that Blake cited.
The current stormwater fee took effect in June. It previously had been $2.50. The town raised the charge to generate funds that will help it obtain grants for future improvements.
The water fee was one of a number of subjects that drew responses from residents in attendance.
Other concerns were voiced on road conditions, town drainage issues and ordinance violation warnings.
In other business
• By a vote of 3-1, the council approved a new employee handbook. Wainscott and council members Jason Kleinbub and Lindsay Washmuth voted for approval. Town council vice-president Tony Pearson voted no.
• Representing the Madison County Council of Governments, Neil Stevenson stated a request to split two parcels north of Brookside Road into eight lots met zoning ordinance guidelines. It was unanimously approved by the council. The request was brought to the town council after the last scheduled plan commission meeting was canceled.
• The council discussed then tabled a decision on renewal of a contract with Lapel’s lone cable provider, Swayzee Communications. The company provides cable television and internet services. The renewal is for a 15-year term. The council said would like a new contract with a shorter term.
• A new state statute requires the Lapel Plan Commission to include seven members. Currently, the commission has five. Town residents interested in serving on the commission can contact Deputy Clerk Paula Lee at [email protected].
• Due to falling on the Fourth of July holiday, the next scheduled town council meeting was moved to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 110 E. Ninth St., Lapel.