The Board of Municipal Utilities shall manage, conduct, control and furnish service of the water works, electric light and power plant, sanitary sewerage treatment works and system, artificial or natural gas plant, or other similar public utilities when and if owned by the Municipality.
The Board may make such by-laws and regulations, and appoint or employ such personnel as it may deem necessary for the safe, economical and efficient management, operation and protection of such works, plants and public utilities. Such by-laws and regulations when not repugnant to the ordinances of the Municipality, the Constitution of the State of Ohio, and to this Charter, shall have the same validity as municipal ordinances. For the purpose of paying the expenses and of conducting and managing such works, plants and public utilities, of making necessary additions thereto, and extensions thereof, and of making necessary repairs thereon, such Board may assess and collect utility rent charges of sufficient amount and in such manner as it may deem most equitable upon all tenements and premises supplied with its utility services. When such rents or charges are not paid, such Board may certify the same over to the Auditor of Lorain County, Ohio, to be placed on the duplicate and collected as other municipal taxes, or may collect the same by action at law in the name of the Municipality.
The Board of Municipal Utilities shall have the same powers and perform the same duties as now are or may hereafter be possessed by or enjoined by law upon Boards of Trustees of Public Affairs in villages and Directors of Public Service in cities in respect to the public utilities under their direction and supervision; and all powers and duties relating to water works shall extend to and include any municipally owned public utility. The Board shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or ordinance of Council not inconsistent herewith.