LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – City Councilman Steve Massengale has called for the review of a new ordinance after outrage from Lubbock citizens because some are now facing bills of several thousand dollars.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: KCBD Investigates Ordinance Outrage: City of Lubbock property owners shocked by pricey plumbing bills
Massengale stated in a social media post the council may revisit the ordinance involving sewer line repairs.
“After listening to citizens concerns, Councilwoman Joy and I have asked staff to work on a revised sewer line ordinance that addresses city responsiveness for repairs and relieves the financial burden on property owners,” he stated.
Councilman and fellow mayoral candidate Mark McBrayer told us a few weeks ago he would be willing to revisit the ordinance.
“Yeah, I’ll ask us to revisit it,” McBrayer said in our earlier interview. “We need to be responsible with how we address that issue and not unnecessarily push problems off on the homeowners if there is a better way to do that. I am certainly happy to, I will ask council to revisit it.”
Currently, homeowners must pay city-approved contractors to complete work on “private sewer lateral lines in a public right-of-way,” including alleyways.
When city staff presented the proposed amendment to council last year, staff estimated it would reduce city operational and capital improvement costs by an estimated $800,000 annually.
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https://www.kcbd.com/2024/02/29/massengale-calls-ordinance-review-after-lubbock-citizens-pay-thousands-plumbing-bills/
