Although Town Administrator Tiffany Rowen was unable to attend the August Board of Trustees meeting, she provided a detailed report to board members on Friday, August 15th. The report highlighted key updates on utility services, licensing changes, seasonal operations, and progress on major grant projects.
Utility Meter Audit and Corrections
After a billing discrepancy surfaced at Julyโs meeting, town staff conducted a full audit of all utility meters. Seven meters were found to have incorrect meter numbers. The issue has since been corrected, with bills adjusted to ensure fairness, overbilled customers received reductions, while underbilled customers were not charged extra since the errors stemmed from the Town. To prevent future mistakes, photos will now be attached to each work order for verification.
Food Truck Licensing Overhaul
Rowen reported on the stateโs new Food Truck Freedom Act, which takes effect on November 1, 2025. The law eliminates local and county food truck licenses, replacing them with a single state-issued license valid statewide. The Town will update its ordinances accordingly.
Pool Season Wraps Up
The municipal swimming pool closed for the season on August 9. A full financial report, including revenues and expenses, will be presented at the October meeting once final invoices are tallied.
New Town Hall Utility Policies Coming
Work is underway on two new policies: a Utility Bill Complaint Policy and a New Utility Service Policy. Drafts, based on examples from other municipalities, are expected to be presented in September for board review.
Grant Project Progress
MRDAF Grant: State funds have been received; engineers are preparing bid documents for improvements to South Mitchell Road.
FYโ25 REAP Grant: Contracts are signed, and equipment for the new remote water meter reading system is expected soon. Installation should be completed within 120 days.
RIG Grant: A pre-construction meeting on August 12 officially moved the bulk water dispensing system improvement project into its next phase.
The next Board of Trustees Meeting will be on September 9th, starting at 6 pm at the Hennessey Town Hall. Enter via the back door. This is an open meeting to the public, and all are invited.
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