BELLE — Jeff Honse, owner and landlord of Parkview Apartments, addressed the Belle Board of Aldermen on April 9 regarding a water meter ordinance that passed in November 2024. Honse disputed that a Sept. 12 meeting between the board and local landlords was the reason he changed the way water and sewer fees were collected at the apartment complex, but the Nov. 12 ordinance that he was not made aware of until recently put the burden of the bills back on him.

Ordinance 645, which was passed at the Nov. 12 meeting, was described on the agenda as “Landlords to notify clerk of change in tenancy-responsible for delinquent bills (Ordinance number 344, 10-10-200).”

According to Ordinance 645, “The landlord shall be responsible for water and sewer bills that are single and multiple residences.

For multiple residences built prior to Jan. 1, 2025, (1-1-2025) the landlord shall have the option to:

Have meters and transmitters installed at each residence.

The cost of the meters and transmitter shall be waived by the city, if arrangements are made with the city before Jan. 1, 2025. After Jan. 1, 2025, the landlord will be responsible for the cost of the meter and transmitter at the cities supplier cost.

The landlord is responsible for the cost of the materials.

Installation is to be supervised and under the direction of the Public Works Director or their designee.

Choose that a minimum water and sewer fee be assessed for every unit attached to a single meter.

A minimum water and sewer fee will be charged to each unit until a meter can be installed.

For multiple residences built after Jan. 1, 2025, (1-1-2025) the landlord will be responsible for installing a water meter transmitter in each unit.

The landlord will assume the cost of the meter, transmitter, installation, and materials.

Installation is to be supervised and under the direction of the Public Works Director or their designee.”

Ordinance 645 passed with a 4-0 vote.