(a) Meters will be read and bills rendered monthly, but the village reserves the right to vary the dates or length of period covered, temporarily or permanently. Billing for sewer service shall be on the monthly flat rate basis for residential. Non-residential is based on the amount of metered water consumed within the billing period or a minimum rate.
(b) Bills for water and sewer will be calculated in accordance with the village's published rate schedule then in effect.
(c) Charges for water service shall commence at the time of availability of water and with the installation of the water meter.
(d) Charges for sewer service shall commence at the time of the inspection and startup of the sewer system or the connection to gravity main.
(e) Bills are due on the billing date and may become delinquent in accordance with such policies as may be adopted and revised by the village council from time to time. If bills are not paid within the timeframe specified by such policies, the village shall charge a finance charge for late payment as provided in an established rate schedule, as approved and amended by the village council from time to time. In addition to the finance charges, the village may charge a late fee as provided in an established rate schedule, as approved and amended by the village from time to time. The village may also discontinue service on any account which remains delinquent for more than 60 days and the village may take other lawful action on the account.
(f) Subject to policies which may be adopted from time to time by the village council, payments made to any account shall be applied in the following order of priority:
(1) Accrued interest;
(2) Accrued late fees or similar charges;
(3) Collection agency, attorney's or other collection costs or expenses;
(4) To the principal balance owed.
(g) Partial payments made on any bill which combines water and sewer services shall be applied first to sewer billing, then to other charges (including, but not limited to, water line surcharge, purchase of Brunswick County water, service charges or other charges) and then to water billing.
(h) Should any property owner desire the water cut off at the meter for convenience, the water department shall make such cut off. A fee in accordance with an established fee schedule shall be charged for the restoration of service, which fee shall be added to the regular utility bill. Should a request for service restoration be performed during after-hours, an adjusted fee in accordance with an established fee schedule shall be charged and added to the utility bill. The village reserves the right to vary these fees from time to time to cover the cost of providing such service.
(i) Failure to receive bills or notices shall not prevent such bills from becoming delinquent or relieve the consumer from responsibility for payment.
(j) A collection fee as provided in an established rate schedule, as approved and amended by the village council from time to time, shall be charged to any delinquent account turned over to a collection agency.
(k) The village shall impose a non-sufficient funds charge as provided in an established rate schedule, as approved and amended by the village council from time to time, in the event payment is refused for insufficient funds or otherwise dishonored by the financial institution on which the payment is drawn/made.
(l) To the extent permitted by law, all attorneys, experts or other professional fees incurred by village to enforce any provision of this chapter or collect any account shall be borne by consumer.
(Ord. of 10-26-2007)