FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes. The city has information on how to conserve water at your home or your business. Using less water lowers your monthly bills and delays the need for the city to spend money on additional water production and distribution facilities.

Only after authorization from the Utility Billing Department. Tampering with a water meter could cause damage to the gate valve. Also, turning a meter on without authorization is considered theft.

The city will work with any customer that is experiencing difficulty paying. In no case are charges reduced or eliminated for hardship reasons.

The city does not pay interest on deposits. Most deposits are $200 and any interest earned would be minimal when you deduct the costs to manage the program. The interest earned on deposits is used to help pay the costs of operating the water and sewer utility which helps maintain our low rates.

The city typically will not make adjustments but will set up a payment plan of up to three months for large balances.

You can set up additional accounts by placing a deposit ($200 plus $45 (within city limits) or $65 (outside of city limits) for each account.

We either received your payment after the disconnect notices were printed or we did not receive it at all. Call the Utility Billing Department at 903-778-2525 to make sure your payment arrived. This is the only notice you will receive.

Pay the past due amount and put up a normal deposit (The normal deposit for a residential account is currently $200 plus connect fee is $45 (within the city limits) or $65 (outside city limits).

Call City Hall 903-778-2525.

The city sends out a your bill on the 1st of each month and a late notice on the 15th of each month. The late notice telling you the amount is due before cut off is the only notification you will receive. Our meter crew is instructed to turn off the water. They are not allowed to collect payment in the field nor are they authorized to negotiate terms to re-establish service.

After a meter is cut-off, we wait 5-7 days to hear from the customer. If the customer has not contacted us, we pull the meter from the ground and final out the account. If the customer has a deposit, it is applied to the account. To re-establish service, the customer must pay the old account in full, pay a $45 inside city limits or $65 outside city limits connect fee, and post a normal deposit. (A normal deposit for a residential customer is currently $200).

The city will set up a temporary account for two weeks for a $50 fee.

Your deposit will be refunded to you after your deposit is applied to any unpaid balance. The remaining amount will be mailed to the forwarding address that you supply us.

It is less expensive to operate a water system in this area than a sewer system. Surface water is readily available and it requires a multi-stage process to filter out the impurities and clean the water to the standards required by the State.

There could be several reasons for abnormally high water use. Among them are:

1. Watering the yard and landscaping
2. A change in the number of people living in the household
3. A leak in the plumbing system, fixture, or water using appliance
4. A faulty water meter
5. An incorrect meter reading

If you suspect a bad meter or an incorrect reading, call the Utility Billing Department at 903-778-2525.

No. Your dog must be confined at all times, even on your property by a sufficient fence and/or humanely chained in such a manner that he cannot leave your property. Failure to properly confine your dog can result in a fine and/or citation to Municipal Court.

Contact the City of Trinidad Municipal Court to determine the amount of the fine. Remember, you have ten (10) days from the date the citation was given to you to respond to the Municipal Court.

If wildlife is frequenting your property, then you need to identify what is attracting them. Pet food left out during the evening hours and open garbage containers are usually the problem. If a trap is needed, contact Texas Parks and Wildlife for help.

If some type of wildlife is digging up your lawn, it is usually an armadillo or skunk digging for grubs, worms, etc. Treat your yard with a pesticide to kill off their food source.

If you have crawl space under your house and/or shed that has open access holes, you are inviting wildlife to move in. Cover all areas of access with solid, sturdy material. If a critter has already set up home under your house or shed, then block all access points except one. Before dark, sprinkle flour around the front of the access hole and check periodically throughout the evening until you see tracks leading out. Cover the hole after you are sure that no wildlife will be trapped under your house and/ or shed.

If you have taken all the above steps and still have a critter problem, then trapping may be the only solution.

If your dog or cat has been in contact with one of the following high risk animals: skunk, racoon, bat, fox or coyote, contact Animal Services immediately for guidance. If the wildlife animal is dead or can be caught then it may be shipped for testing. You are also advised to consult with your veterinarian. You pet may need vet care for injuries, and may need to be given a booster rabies vaccination if he is currently vaccinated, or a series of vaccinations if he is not currently vaccinated.

Immediately go to the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake to see if your pet has been brought in. Check with your neighbors to see if they have seen your dog. You may also want to check the lost and found section of the local newspapers and place ad there yourself.

The City has a cat trap program to assist you in trapping and removing stray cats on your property. This is a free service.

Rabies is an acute viral disease that attacks the nervous system, resulting in paralysis and almost certain death once the symptoms appear. The rabies virus is present in the saliva of the rabid animal. The most common way the disease is spread is by a bite from an infected animal. Though rare, rabies also can be spread if the infected animal’s saliva comes in contact with fresh scratches, open wounds or mucous membranes such as the lining of the eyelid.

When calling the City of Trinidad Animal Control about a stray animal, please give a detailed description of the animal (Breed, Color, Size, Collar, Tags, etc.). If you know where the stray animal belongs, let us know the address so we can make contact with the owner. Please provide your name, phone number and/or address in case the Animal Control Officer needs to get more information from you about your complaint. Your information will be kept confidential.

Animal Control takes all dogs and cats to the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake. Owners of loose livestock such as horses and cows. Smaller livestock such as hogs and goats are normally the responsibility of their owner. If the animals continually run loose, then the owner will be fined.