Watering violators now face fines

By: 
Jill Meier, Journal editor
If you’re caught watering on the wrong day at the wrong time, that will get you a door-hanger greeting from the city warning you of the violation.
Do it twice, and you stand to part with $100 of your hard-earned cash.
A third time, well, that will cost you another $200.
The fourth offense jumps to $300.
And the fifth offense, your water will be shut off.
Public works director Rollie Hoeke said violations are at five or less so far this year, crediting that to the above-average spring and summer rainfalls and late winter snow.
That’s substantially less than the more than 15 violations committed last year at this same time, Hoeke said.
“The groundwater is high enough so people’s lawns are staying fairly green, but if it warms up, that will change,” he said.
At the June 3 meeting of the Brandon city council, Hoeke enlightened city leaders on 2018’s water restriction violations. Last year, there were 64 violations noted, and out of those, two received a second notice, of which one homeowner was fined.
Hoeke also keeps a list of suspected violators, which numbered 29 last year. And three from that list were moved to the violator’s list.
There were 68 requests for exception to the water restrictions in 2018, and Hoeke said 14 of the 68 requests were denied.
In 2018, the council adopted a lawn watering program, which remains in place year-round. It’s similar to programs in other communities, including Sioux Falls. Brandon’s program has three stages:
Stage 1 (green) is in effect year-round. Users with even-numbered addresses are allowed to water their lawns on even numbered days and users with odd-numbered addresses are allowed to water on odd-numbered days. No lawn watering is allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Stage 2 (yellow) restrictions allow one-day a week lawn watering.
Stage 3 (red) restrictions prohibit all lawn watering.
To learn more, call City Hall at 582-6515.

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The Brandon Valley Journal

 

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Brandon, SD 57005
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