(A) Restrictions if disconnection is necessary.
(1) If the service of a residential customer must be involuntarily disconnected, the disconnection must not occur on a Friday or on the day before a holiday. Further, the disconnection must not occur until at least ten days after the required notice has been mailed to the customer.
(2) If, prior to disconnection, a customer appeals the notice of involuntary disconnection, as provided by the city's established appeal procedure in division (E) below, the city staff must not disconnect until the appeal is resolved.
(B) Shut-off for non-payment between April 15 and October 15. If a customer's account becomes continually delinquent during the period between April 15 and October 15, and satisfactory arrangements for payment have not been made, the city may, after the procedural requirements of division (E) below have been complied with, discontinue service to the delinquent customer by shutting off the water at the curb stop. Service shall not be restored until payment of all delinquent amounts and the reconnection fee has been made.
(C) Shut-off for non-payment between October 15 and April 15. City staff shall not disconnect the utility service of a residential customer if the disconnection affects the primary heat source for the residential unit as stated in M.S. § 216B.097.
(D) Notification. The city shall notify all residential customers of the provisions of this section. Additionally, all affected property owners shall be notified if shut-off for non-payment is contemplated.
(E) Procedure. Water shall not be shut off under division (A) until notice and an opportunity for a hearing has been given to the occupant of the premises involved. The notice shall be mailed no less than ten days before the public hearing, and shall state that if payment is not made before the date stated on the notice, the water supply to the premises will be shut off. The notice shall clearly inform the customer of the available opportunities to present to the city their objections to the bill, and shall identify the telephone number, address, and contact information for City Hall. The notice shall also state that the occupant may appear at the next City Council meeting to dispute their charges. In which case, the water supply will not be shut off until after the meeting. If the City Council finds that the amount claimed to be owed is actually due and unpaid and that there is no legal reason why the water supply of the continuously delinquent customer may not be shut off in accordance with this chapter, the city may shut off the supply.
(F) Reconnection. Reconnection may be scheduled once all applicable fees and charges are brought current. At the time of reconnection by the city, a designated representative of the unit must be present.
(G) Costs. Any and all costs incurred by digging to locate any curb stop shall be borne by the property owner. All curb stops shall be kept readily accessible for service by city staff. In the event that concrete or bituminous surface must be removed to gain access to the shut-off valve, all accesses and replacement costs shall be borne by the property owner.
(Ord. 444, passed 5-25-00; Am. Ord passed 7-13-05; Am. Ord. 20-03, passed 7-14-20)