(A) Size And Installation: All gas service shall be metered with a meter of adequate size to measure the amount of gas consumed. Meters shall be of the positive type and shall be American Gas Association approved.
All meters shall be so placed and installed as to render the same accessible at all times for the purpose of reading and repairing. All meters shall be set outside of the buildings wherever practical. Indoor installations must be vented with an adequate vent extending to the outside. (Ord. 10/67, 2-5-1968; amd. Ord. 6/72, 12-4-1972, eff. 1-1-1973; Ord. 6/74, 8-1-1974)
(B) Meter Deposit Application: In those cases where the applicant requesting service is a tenant, contract purchaser, or a trustee of an Illinois land trust, the applicant shall also be required to state the capacity in which he makes application for such service as a condition of approval of the application, and in those cases, the landlord, contract seller or each beneficiary of the land trustee, depending upon whatever the case may be, must also sign the City's meter deposit application form, indicating not only the capacity in which he signs such form, but also his correct legal mailing address, including zip code. The City's meter deposit application form shall state that the owner or occupant of any service is jointly or severally liable to pay for all utilities furnished to the premises, and in the event any bill is not paid within thirty (30) days after its rendition, the delinquent bill shall constitute a lien against the premises. The City Clerk may record a notice of lien in the Office of the Mercer County Recorder of Deeds in the event the outstanding balance on any account that is delinquent by more than thirty (30) days exceeds two hundred dollars ($200.00), and the City Clerk shall record a notice of lien in the Office of the Mercer County Recorder of Deeds in the event the outstanding balance on any account that is delinquent by more than thirty (30) days exceeds three (3) times the monthly average gas bill for such account over the preceding twelve (12) month period. In addition to the meter deposit application form, each applicant who is a tenant, contract purchaser or a trustee of an Illinois land trust for the premises for which the application is made shall be required to accompany his application with a deposit pursuant to title 13, "Schedule Of Fees", of this Code to be known as a meter deposit fee and the deposit proceeds may be used to pay delinquent gas, water and sewer or service charges or refunded as provided below.
The meter deposit fee shall be deposited in the Meter Deposit Fund and in the event any customer discontinues service and has paid in full all amounts due for gas, water and sewer and service charges, then the full amount of the deposit shall be refunded. However, in the event that any amounts are due from said customer, either for gas, water and sewer or service charges, then such amounts shall be deducted and paid into the proper fund and the balance shall be refunded.
Any tenant, contract purchaser or trustee of an Illinois land trust who has paid a deposit and later becomes the owner of record of the property served shall, upon application to the City, be refunded his deposit. (Ord. 16/2017, 6-5-2017)