A. Basis For Water User Charges: There is hereby established a system of periodic service charges and fees for the use of, and for services rendered by, the city water system, which charges and fees shall be as near as possible proportional to the services rendered by said water system. The rates, charges and fees shall be sufficient to produce the revenue required to maintain, repair, operate, administer and improve the system and pay all loans, bonds, or other debts incurred to do so. The rates, charges and fees provided by this chapter are hereby levied and assessed against the user having any water service connection with the city water system. It is specifically enacted that all property in the city to which the water system is available, but is not used by the owner or occupier of said parcel of land, is still subject to user charges under the provisions of this chapter as recompense for availability of service and other benefits. (1974 Code § 1-511)
B. Rate Committee:
1. Created; Membership; Confirmation: There is hereby created a Rate Committee consisting of seven (7) members, who are as follows: a) the City Clerk, b) the Director of Public Works, c) the City Treasurer, d) the City Engineer and e) three (3) citizens of Buhl appointed by the Mayor; one will represent commercial users, one will represent industrial users and one will represent residential users; all must be approved by the City Council. The City Water Department Manager and the City Waste Water Department Manager shall be adjunct members of the Rate Committee. The Rate Committee shall be confirmed by the City Council and all decisions made by the Rate Committee shall be subject to approval of the City Council.
2. Chairperson: The City Engineer shall be the Chairperson of the Rate Committee.
3. Meetings: The Rate Committee shall meet at least one time a year and at such additional times as called by the Chairperson or three (3) members.
4. Duties: At least once annually the Rate Committee shall evaluate the monthly service charges for the City water, sewer and sanitation system and recommend changes to the City Council in administration, water use, and other rates as required to operate, maintain, administer and/or improve the City water, sewer and sanitation system.
5. Individual Unit User Appraisal:
a. Appraisal; Assessment: Each type of individual water user and parcel being subject to a water user charge as provided in this section shall be appraised and assessed by the Rate Committee for the purpose of establishing the individual unit user rating and the monthly service charge or fee for individual unit water use service, to be charged or assessed to and against such property. In making such appraisal, the Rate Committee shall utilize the unit rating adopted by resolution of the City Council. The unit rating shall be sum of all units served by a single water meter.
b. Example Computation For Multiple Users Through Single Meter: An example computation for a planned unit development user obtaining all of his water through a single water meter and consisting of ten (10) single-family residences, a mobile home court with twenty (20) spaces, five (5) duplexes, and a motel with twelve (12) units, is as follows:
Single-family residences | 10 units |
Mobile home court | 20 units |
Duplexes | 10 units |
Motel: First unit | 1 unit |
Next 10 units | 5 units |
Next 1 unit | 1/4 unit |
Total: | 461/4 units |
The total unit rating for this user would be forty seven (47) units. All fractions of units obtained after summation shall be rounded up to the next largest whole unit. (Ord. 986, 8-14-2017)
C. Water Rates Within City Limits: All owners within the City limits who derived benefit from the City water system shall, in return for said benefit, pay monthly user charges established by resolution of the City Council. The total monthly user charge shall be the sum of separate monthly charges for administration, water usage and such other expenses deemed proper by the City Council.
1. Administration rate: The monthly service charge to administer the water system.
2. Water user rate: The monthly service charge to provide water for use from the water system.
D. Water Rates Outside City Limits: All owners outside the City who derive benefit from the City water and/or sewer system shall, in return for said benefit, pay monthly user charges equal to one and one-half (11/2) times the monthly charge otherwise chargeable to an owner within the City as computed above, unless the City determines that, because of special circumstances, the fee should be more or less than one and one-half (11/2) times the fee, in which case the Rate Committee may be asked to determine the fee.
E. Notification To Users Of Income And Expense Of Water System: Upon any rate change, the City shall inform users that an income and expense statement for the water system is available at City Hall for their inspection and copying. (1974 Code § 1-511)
F. Faulty Meter; Rate To Be Paid: If, for any reason, a meter is faulty or fails to register the correct amount of water used, the rate shall be fixed at an estimated rate of use based upon a historical review of the facts presented by the user and the city and past consumptive records. The director of public works, or the director's designee, shall establish a settlement rate based upon such information. (1974 Code § 1-512)