City Repeals 30-Year Propane Ordinance
In a recent City Council meeting, members voted to repeal the 30-year Ordinance No. 89-21, which did not allow residents within the city limits to store propane and butane tanks above ground. The Council based the decision on its concern for the residents who did not have heat during the harsh winter storm in 2020. Mayor Pro Tem Tom Parker expressed the Council’s sentiment.
“We thought about the freeze last year and its impact on people who did not have heat in their homes. Also, we had decreased gas pressure and electrical outages. So, to give people another option for heat, we thought about propane,” Parker said.
“This ordinance said that you couldn’t use anything in town larger than a five-gallon can. And it’s illegal by our fire code to use that five-gallon can to heat your home; you can’t bring those heaters in your home. It’s illegal nationally. So, we decided to repeal this and allow [residents to [comply with] the NFPA standards that deal with storage and installation of gas appliances. [Residents will] be able to put heaters in, and they could then have propane delivered or pick it up, giving them an additional heating auxiliary or a primary heating source,” Parker said. Ordinance No 89-21 states:
“AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OLNEY, TEXAS, PROVIDING A NEW SECTION UNDER THE CURRENTLY ADOPTED FIRE CODE FOR THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF LIQUID PETROLEUM GAS WITHIN CITY LIMITS; REPEALING SECTION 5.01.005 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES ENTITLED ABOVE-GROUND STORAGE OF PROPANE OR BUTANE; PROVIDING A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
You may review the updated ordinance online when available by vising www.CityOfOlneyTx.com.
There are several ways you can stay up to date on the City Council meetings. You may either review all City Council and Finance Committee meetings that the Interim City Administrator posts online by visiting the City of Olney’s website: www.CityOfOlneyTx.com. Or, you may attend the City Council meetings that occur every second and fourth Monday at City Hall located at 201 E. Main Street.