The City Council approved installing a 4‑inch water line to replace an aged private line serving the Wedgwood Water Association and asked staff to determine payment arrangements for delinquent bills and continued revenue shortfalls.

Public utilities staff said updated material quotes and labor estimates reduced the project cost estimate from about $60,000 to about $43,000. Under the proposal described to council, the cost would be recovered by monthly assessments of $25 per month for seven existing properties, with a 20‑year payback if no new connections occur. Staff said if additional customers connect, the payback term shortens; a $3,500 one‑time connection fee would apply to new customers and be deducted from amounts owed by existing customers.

Several residents and an advocate, Tiffany DeMarcus, spoke in favor of resolving the water problems and said they have pursued repairs and sought accountability for deliberate damage that increased delinquent balances. DeMarcus told council, "I have been working with these residents for approximately 4 years now," and urged action on behalf of neighbors who need water service.

Staff noted a delinquent total of roughly $28,000 tied to the area (including an $8,779 amount for damage to a meter and valve) and said the delinquency grows about $300 per month. Council discussed term length, interest (staff said 3.5% fixed in the presented scenario), and collection mechanisms for property outside city limits, and approved the installation and staff direction for repayment options 6‑1.

Why it matters: the action moves a private, failing water system into a city-managed solution with a repayment schedule that spreads cost among limited users outside city limits; the chosen approach balances recoverability with affordability for fixed‑income residents.

What's next: staff will implement the installation, finalize financing/loan application terms (likely through OWRB FAP loan program), and return with exact bids, loan terms and repayment schedules at a subsequent public hearing where council will set final terms and liens.