The Hampton City Council took action at its June 9 regular meeting on two new ordinances related to the regulation of the city’s utility services.

  The first one amends the city code section on utility rate schedules to allow the inclusion of electricity as a utility for which the council sets the rates. The council already does this for water, sewer and electricity but only the other two were specifically mentioned in the code.

  The second ordinance redefines the city’s response to nonpayment of utility services, which in the past was at the sole discretion of the mayor but will now include the city manager and the finance department on the administrative side with the City Council to be involved in any decisions on legal remedies for nonpayment.

  In other business, the council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of a half-acre piece of property at 32 Barnett Street, one block east of Main Street, at a cost not to exceed $190,000. The action was not initially on the meeting agenda, but took place after the council convened in executive session for the stated purpose of real discussion.

  According to various online listings, the site is suitable for industrial use and includes a 4,500-square-foot building which has been used in the past for sports and recreation purposes by various tenants.

  Three measures were approved related to the Hampton Youth Council. The first reading was approved for an ordinance amending the city’s code “to allow for increased efficiency of the Youth Council,” according to a staff report, as well as a resolution establishing the third Wednesday of each month as the date for youth council committee meetings.

  The City Council also approved authorization to host a year-end ceremony for the youth council June 23 at the Train Depot. The stated purpose of that action was “to honor and congratulate Youth Council members.”