(a) Before water service through existing lines may be obtained for any premises within the Municipality, the owner, tenant or occupant of the premises shall make application for such service to the Utility Clerk.
(b) Each owner, tenant or occupant shall deposit a water service deposit fee as set forth in the Fee Schedule of the Codified Ordinances for each premises for which water service is to be supplied. Such deposit shall be for the purpose of ensuring the payment of the final water bill with any balance refunded, or a bill for any balance due to the Municipality shall be rendered to either the non property owner (occupant) or property owner as identified in the County Auditor property tax records database. The depositor shall receive no interest on his or her deposit. The moneys so deposited shall be placed in a separate fund to be used for no purpose other than to offset any unpaid amounts for water service rendered. Such deposit shall not relieve the depositor of the responsibility for payment for such service in excess of the deposit.
(c) Each owner, tenant or occupant of the premises to which water service is rendered who has made the deposit, as set forth in this section, shall be entitled to the refund of his or her deposit at such time as he or she has made timely payment of all charges for water service for two years, or upon termination of water service. A refund shall be made only upon written application therefor.
(d) No application for water service shall be allowed, and no water shall be supplied to any applicant or consumer where it is apparent that the applicant or consumer is indebted to the Municipality for water supplied, work done, material furnished, or penalties imposed. This provision shall apply whether the indebtedness was incurred at the premises for which application is made or at any other premises supplied by the Municipality within or without the corporate limits.
(e) This security deposit shall be received by the Finance Director or his designated representative no later than sixty days following the opening of a new account or service shall be terminated immediately.
(f) Account holders whose accounts, which have not been charged for delinquencies or late payments for eight consecutive quarters shall receive, upon request, the full amount of the water security deposit.
(g) Account holders who fulfill requirements of receiving a refund of their water and sewer deposit shall not be required to make an additional deposit should they relocate within the Municipal limits.
(h) The funds deposited shall be placed in a separate account and used for no other purpose than to offset any unpaid bills, or returned to the depositor upon cessation of services after deduction of any unpaid balance. The posting of the deposit and the use of the deposit to offset unpaid amounts, shall not relieve the user of the liability for amounts due in excess of the deposit
(i) The depositor shall receive no interest on the deposit.
(j) Application of deposit to delinquent utility bills:
(1) In the event that a utility account becomes delinquent, the deposit may be applied against unpaid water, sewer, storm water, or residential waste pickup charges and the service will be subject to disconnection as provided in this chapter.
(2) In the case of disconnection, service will not be reestablished until the deposit is replenished, and the account is paid in full, including a turn on charge, as described in Section 1034.05.
(Ord. 25-10. Passed 12-14-10.)