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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Ken Schroth, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
DATE: July 10, 2017
SUBJECT:
An Ordinance Amending Section 48-26 Entitled "Responsibility for Installation, Maintenance" of Division 1, Article II, Chapter 48 of the Aurora Code of Ordinances.
PURPOSE:
To alter the maintenance responsibility for water service pipes, valves, and meters.
BACKGROUND:
The current ordinance, which was last amended in 2002, provides that the City shall be solely responsible for maintaining and repairing the water service facilities between the public water main and individual water meters, including all appurtenances.
DISCUSSION:
Water service facilities are the connection between the public water main and an individual water user. Each service facility includes a meter to track usage and a valve that can be used to shut-off service to the user. This valve is typically located near the limit of the City's right-of-way. Beyond that, the water service extends onto private property.
City staff regularly maintains and repairs water service facilities on private property. Sometimes this requires work within fenced areas. It can also impact improvements made to private property that require restoration by specialized tradesmen hired by the City (carpenters, tile layers, painters, etc.) Staff researched the municipal codes of all the neighboring municipalities, as well as those of Elgin, Joliet, Rockford and Waukegan. None stipulate that the municipality must maintain water service facilities on private property.
Some individual water users have water service facilities for both domestic uses and fire suppression. These can be two distinct water service facilities or combined in the same service facility. The City's Code of Ordinances does not currently address the maintenance responsibility for fire suppression water service facilities.
The proposed Ordinance serves two purposes.
1. It limits the City's responsibility for maintainin...
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