City to look into service line program

Jacksboro officials will be having a member of the National League of Cities come speak to them soon in an possible attempt to save residents some money..

The city, according to City Manager Mike Smith, is a member of the Texas Municipal League and the National League of Cities. The NLC service line program is designed for cities with aging infrastructure and acts as a warranty program for water and sewer lines that if it is determined to be the city’s problem. If it determined to be the city’s problem on a problem, it will help pay for repairs.

“The program is very good,” Smith told the council at its July 27 regular meeting. “There is no deductible and no limit to the numbers of claims you can file.”

What bothered city aldermen the most about the program is having a letter from the NLC go out on city letterhead, making it look like the city was in favor of the program. The NLC says it likes to do that because if it comes from them directly, it normally gets tossed in the trash.

Smith says the city gets calls nearly daily from residents with sewer problems. If they find out the problem was with the city’s lines, and the person has the NML warranty program, the homneowner is not having to call someone. The program allows for up to $8500 per repair incident.

Smith said the NLC was willing to come out and talk to the city about the program, which Smith said he would schedule in the near future.

The council approved a resolution on how to get something in the city council agenda. Smith said in previous meetings the request must be requested five calendar days before the meeting to allow for city staff to research the problem if need be.

Once the request is received, Smith will provide written feedback.