(a) Service charges and surcharges for sewer service shall be established by resolution of the City Commission adopted from time to time and shall be billed on a monthly basis. Service charges for residential users shall be included as a separate item on the City services bill. Payments received for the City services bill shall only be applied in the following order:
(1) Refuse;
(2) Sewer; and
(3) Water.
(b) All bills shall be paid monthly to the City Treasurer's office on or before the due date. If the service charges and surcharges for water or sewer service remain unpaid for thirty days, a delinquency and termination notice shall be issued. The delinquency and termination notice shall provide the customer of record with the following information:
(1) The amount due;
(2) The customer's right to disputed bills hearing before the Finance Director or his authorized representative;
(3) Notice that service will be terminated in fifteen days if the bill remains unpaid; and
(4) Notice of the late charge as set forth in this section.
(c) A late charge of ten percent of the unpaid bill shall be assessed on all bills paid more than thirty days after the due date.
(d) A request for a hearing by the customer must be filed with the Revenue Services Director not later than three working days before the date of discontinuance. In instances where the service is actually terminated and later reinstated, the customer shall be charged thirty dollars ($30.00) to cover the costs of reinstating the service. Where service is discontinued, the water shall be shut off from the premises until the unpaid bill, together with reconnection charges, has been paid. A request for hearing form may be obtained from the Finance Department and must be filed before the scheduled termination date. Such hearing shall be conducted by the Revenue Services Director or their designee, for the purpose of allowing the customer of record to present objections to the bill. The Revenue Services Director shall have authority to make corrections on the utility bill if an error is found.
(e) When water service commences or ceases, applicable charges may be prorated. If water service is supplied to a location, the customer of which has vacated the premises, and the City is satisfied that there has been a termination of the need for sewer charges, then the City, on application of the customer, may suspend liability for such charges and such charges shall be reinstated with the next bill rendered to a customer of such premises.
(f) The portion of the account which remains outstanding for 180 days shall then be collected under the procedures of a special lot assessment as set forth in Chapter 216 of these Codified Ordinances or in the Act 94 of the Public Acts of 1933, as amended, if applicable.
(Ord. 14-01. Passed 10-16-01; Ord. 07-2023. Passed 8-1-23.)