Monday night Pell City Council approved an amended ordinance initially proposed last month designed to provide more senior discounts for water rates.

Under the new ordinance, applicants must be 65 or older and provide proof of income and will be required to reapply annually.  Household income was increased to $1,200 from $937 for applicants to qualify.

According to the new ordinance, “The applicant must provide proof of household income demonstrating that the total gross household income for all household occupants, regardless of age, from all sources does not exceed $14,400 per year.”

Approved applicants will receive the discount of $8 per month for the first 2,000 gallons of  water use and 20 percent of the regular rate for usage exceeding 2,000 gallons.

The ordinance proposed last month failed after Councilman Greg Gossett voted “no” to suspend the rules, saying he felt like the ordinance needed to provide more specifics for income verification and application process.

The amended ordinance passed after a 5-1 vote.  Councilman Donnie Todd voted against the amended ordinance, questioning the city’s ability to enforce the ordinance and who will handle administrative functions related to providing the senior discounts.  “Who is going to handle this on a day-to-day basis?”  Todd says the ordinance creates more work and the city hasn’t appointed anyone to review and verify applications.  “We may have created something we could have no way of enforcing,” Todd said.

Mayor Bill Hereford told Todd and the rest of the council he would take on the work himself or designate the responsibilities to someone.

Applications will be made available to the public at City Hall or mailed to customers upon request.

In other actions the council:

—Approved the reappointment of Lydia Carter to the Pell Library Board.

—Appointed Van Davis as municipal judge.

—Approved the request of Laura Kay Spears for extension of home repairs in regards to building code violation.  Her home was damaged during last April’s storms.  Spears has 60 days to finish repairs once work begins.

—Granted approval allowing Mayor Hereford to make a salary offer up to $63, 159 to a new IT Support Specialist.

—Approved the annexation of 12 acres of property located at 70 Hazelwood Drive, owned by Vada Vaughn Estate.  The property is intended for commercial use.

—Approved rezoning property owned by James and Jennifer Bearden located at 802 Dickey Drive from R-1, low density residential district, to R-A, residential agriculture district.

—Approved revising fees for residential subdivision plan reviews and developments other than subdivisions.

—Approved soliciting bids for the roof repair on the Community Center.

—Approve an increase from $14.73 to $17.19 an hour for the city’s tennis pro salary.