(A) Billing. Bills for health and sanitation services, including but not limited to use and services of the sewage system and refuse collection charges, determined by the established rates shall be prepared by the office of the City Treasurer and shall be due and payable on or before the twentieth day following the date of the bill. Unless the City Treasurer or a designee determines that the city’s interest is best served by sending the bill to a renter, the bill shall be sent to the owner or the management company of the lot, parcel of land or premises. If charges are not paid within 20 days of the date of any bill rendered, a delayed payment charge in the amount of 10% of the bill shall be imposed, billed, and collected. Every 30 days thereafter, a 1% interest charge shall be applied to any unpaid balance. When a bill is not paid by a tenant within 30 days after the date of the bill, the property owner shall be responsible for paying said bill including delayed payment and interest charges.
(B) Occupancy permits. When there is any indebtedness to the city, including any unpaid bills for sewer and/or refuse services to “closed or inactive accounts”, the city may in its sole discretion deny occupancy permits for addresses until all outstanding charges have been paid. Further, the city may revoke occupancy permits for addresses when sewer/trash bills have gone unpaid for 60 or more days, and where occupancy permits inadvertently have been issued.
(C) Lien rights. Whenever a bill for sewer service/refuse collection remains unpaid for 60 days after it has been rendered, the Treasurer or the Treasurer’s designee(s) may file with the Recorder of Deed, St. Clair County, a statement of lien claim. This statement shall contain a legal description of the premises served, the amount of the unpaid bill and the notice that the city claims a lien for this amount as well as for all charges for sewer service/refuse collection subsequent to the period covered by the bill.
(D) Attorney’s fees. In the event that rates and charges for trash collection services provided by the city are not paid by the owner, occupant or user of said lot, parcel of land or premises then the city shall be entitled to collect, in addition to the basic charges enumerated in this section, reasonable attorney’s fees and costs of collection.
(1960 Code, § 18-2-4) (Ord. 5602, passed 7-1-1996; Ord. 7123, passed 4-22-2008; Ord. 7898, passed 10-19-2015)