Members of the Gamaliel City Commission had to clarify an obscure ordinance concerning sewer service at last Monday night’s regularly scheduled commission meeting.

Kerry Brown, who is building a new home that is half in and half out of the city limits, asked for clarification on whether or not the city would provide sewer service to the residence.

Brown noted that old sewer lines on the property were in serious disrepair and would need to be replaced, including a section that passes under a roadway.

Commissioners discussed the issue at length, finally concluding that since Brown pays taxes on the entire property in the city, he is due the services that other residents of Gamaliel receive and the city will take the necessary steps to get sewer service to the home.

Brown also reported to commissions on the status of the Gamaliel Volunteer Fire Department, noting that the department is “pretty tight” on both money and manpower. He told the group that nearly all the recent calls had been for either medical emergencies or wrecks, neither of which are billable by the department.

Brown went on to say that the department will hold a meeting to discuss ways to generate revenue to pay bills, and mentioned that the department is in need of community donations and new volunteers who would be willing to go through the certification process to join the department.