Loading...
(A) Whenever a customer desires to have service discontinued, he or she shall notify the town sufficiently in advance of such desire and of the date on which service is to be discontinued to provide a reasonable time for the town to obtain the final meter reading.
(B) There will be no abatement of charges in whole or in part by reason of the extended absence of the customer or for any other cause unless the town has been notified to turn off the water.
(C) (1) The town may discontinue the service of any customer for any of the following reasons:
(a) If a condition dangerous or hazardous to life, physical safety or property exists;
(b) Upon order by any court or other duly authorized public authority;
(c) If fraudulent or unauthorized use of water is detected and the town has reasonable ground to believe the affected customer is responsible for such use;
(d) If the town’s regulating or measuring equipment has been tampered with and the town has reasonable grounds to believe the affected customer is responsible for such tampering;
(e) For any use of water unauthorized by the town;
(f) For unapproved cross-connection of a customer’s water pipes to any other source of water supply or for permitting any condition to exist about the premises that causes or might cause pollution of the public water supply;
(g) Where the customer has failed to repair any leak in the service pipe or appurtenances between the property line and the meter, or in any private fire protection system or other unmetered facilities;
(h) For any tampering or knowingly permitting any tampering or interference with any service pipe, service stop, meter, meter seal or other town equipment or appliances without the permission of the town;
(i) For failure to pay in accordance with these rules any water bills or other charges in connection with water utility service installations or facilities;
(j) For failure to provide free and nonhazardous access to the premises and meter so that representatives of the town may take water readings, make all necessary inspections and maintain, replace or remove the water meter;
(k) For failure to maintain approved meter settings, including pits, where the meter is not protected from damage;
(l) For installing a new service pipe or appurtenances without a permit from the town;
(m) For failure to comply with the terms of the contract;
(n) For violation of any of the town’s rules and regulations;
(o) For any lawful reason;
(p) When the town must repair its mains or services; or
(q) When for any reasons there is a lack of water in the distribution system.
(2) The discontinuance of service for any of the above reasons shall not invalidate any contract, and the town shall have the right to enforce any contract notwithstanding such discontinuance.
(D) In each case, except those arising under divisions (C)(1)(a), (C)(1)(b), (C)(1)(f), (C)(1)(p) or (C)(1)(q) above, the town shall give written notice of at least five days, either mailed to such customer at his or her address as shown upon the town’s records or personally delivered to him or her or a person on the premises, advising the customer of the reason for the proposed discontinuance of service and stating that service will be discontinued if the condition continues uncorrected. In cases provided for in divisions (C)(1)(a), (C)(1)(b), (C)(1)(f), (C)(1)(p) or (C)(1)(q) above, the town may discontinue service without notice.
(E) Whenever the service is turned off for reasons other than divisions (C)(1)(a), (C)(1)(b), (C)(1)(f), (C)(1)(p) or (C)(1)(q) above, a reconnecting charge shall be paid after the condition resulting in the turnoff is remedied and prior to the restoration of service. This charge shall be as determined by the town and may from time to time be revised to reflect current costs.
(Prior Code, § 104.26) Penalty, see § 52.999
Prior to razing any portion of any building, the person to whom a razing permit is issued shall cause all water laterals to be disconnected and capped by a plumber, said disconnections to be at the property line. Upon the completion of capping, the town shall be notified prior to the backfilling of excavation.
(Prior Code, § 104.33)
RATES, CHARGES AND BILLING
(A) The town may require from each applicant for service a cash deposit equal to his or her estimated billing for a period of four months, but not less than $50, as a guarantee against the nonpayment of bills for service. Such deposit shall remain with the town without interest for the time service is to be supplied.
(B) Any customer who has failed to pay all charges for service rendered within the specified payment period may be required, upon five days’ written notice, to make a cash deposit in an amount equal to an estimated charge for four billing periods for the premises served. If such cash deposit is not made within the five-day period, disconnection may be made.
(C) The town may, but shall not be required to, apply the customer’s deposit to the payment of water bills or any other charge.
(D) The deposit, where chargeable, shall be applied against the final bill when service has been terminated. Any outstanding credit balance shall be refunded to the customer and any outstanding debit balance shall be billed to the customer.
(E) Any deposit made by the customer (less any lawful deductions) which has remained unclaimed for seven years after the town has made diligent efforts to locate the person who made such deposit, or the heirs of such person, shall be presumed to be abandoned and treated in accordance with the laws of the state.
(Prior Code, § 104.11) (Ord. 10-2015, passed 11-23-2015; Ord. 9-2020, passed 8-24-2020)
(A) (1) Meters will be read monthly and bills will be rendered monthly according to the schedule of rates on file with the town. If a bill is not paid before the due date indicated on the bill, the customer will be considered delinquent, and at any time thereafter prior to the payment thereof, the town may, after service notice, discontinue service.
(2) Failure to receive the bill shall not affect the right of the town to discontinue service for nonpayment.
(B) All water charges accrue to the customer rather than the premises. If a customer moves from premises where he or she has been supplied with water service, he or she will be held responsible for the payment of all bills rendered for the service supplied to said premises until he or she gives proper notice to the town that service is to be discontinued at said premises.
(C) A bill for public fire protection and private fire protection shall be rendered yearly. Rates are on file with the town.
(D) All special services for which cash payment is not required will be billed with the next regular monthly bill following the date the service was performed. Rates for special services are on file with the town.
(E) All bills shall be rendered and due monthly. If not paid by the fifteenth day of the month following the date of the bill, there shall be added a 10% penalty to the amount of the bill. Remittances sent by mail on or previous to the fifteenth of the month as evidence by the United States Post Office mark on the envelope in which they are received will be accepted as a tender of payment within the time limit. When the fifteenth falls on a Saturday, Sunday or on any legal holiday, the first business day thereafter shall be considered as being within the time limit.
(F) All charges, if any, shall be based on the registration of the meter or meters installed.
(G) The town will make an effort to read meters at least once a month, and such reading shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of water used. If the town is temporarily unable to obtain an accurate meter reading, the customer shall be billed an estimated charge based on previous meter readings. A card will be left on the door requesting the customer to set a time with the Water Department for entry into the premises for the purpose of reading the meter and making repair of the readout device. The first billing made after the meter is read shall be adjusted according to the actual meter reading. Not more than two estimated readings will be allowed. Failure to make a meter available for reading and/or repair for three consecutive months will result in the disconnection of service.
(H) All water passing through meters shall be charged for, whether used, wasted or lost through leakage.
(I) Disputing the accuracy of a bill shall not be reason for nonpayment of the bill by the customer. The customer may pay a bill under protest, thus giving written notice that redress is being sought. Such written notice must be filed with the Town Clerk-Treasurer prior to the due date of the bill.
(J) In the event of a clerical billing error in favor of the customer, the town may correct said error and bill the correct amount to the customer within five years of the month in which the bill was originally due.
(Prior Code, § 104.16) (Ord. 10-2015, passed 11-23-2015; Ord. 13-2018, passed 2-25-2019)
The Council shall, by ordinance, establish rates and charges for water supplied by said utility to adequately provide for the operation, maintenance, depreciation and repayment of indebtedness of said utility.
(Prior Code, § 104.03)
Cross-reference:
Related provisions, see Ch. 52, Appx. A
Loading...