(a) Monthly Charge. Charges for the weekly collection and disposal of solid waste, beginning April 1, 1995, are established in the General Fee Schedule. All residences are required to use the basic service, which includes curbside recycling and yard waste collection; the toter service is optional. The charge shall be payable monthly by the Owner and or Occupant, regardless of whether or not said residents use the service provided.
(b) Adjustments. The user charge shall at all times generate revenues equal to the actual cost of providing the service. If at any time such revenues drop below such cost of service, an adjustment in the user charge shall automatically be made in such an amount as to restore the cost of service, provided that Council may veto such adjustment within sixty days of its effective date, after first holding a public meeting on the question of the rate adjustment. Notice of such meeting shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Municipality not less than seven days prior to such meeting.
(c) Exemptions.
(1) Residents exempt from charge. Sanitation service, both trash pick-up and single-toter monthly rental fee, shall be provided at no charge to residents who:
A. Are at least 65 years of age (proof of age must be submitted and may be a paper copy of one of the following: a birth certificate, driver's license or State identification card; certification of the copy is not required) and/or are declared to be totally and permanently disabled (proof of disability status must be certified in writing by a medical doctor licensed to practice medicine in the State of Ohio); and
B. Have a yearly income of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or less (excluding Social Security benefits) or the applicant and his or her spouse shall have a yearly income often thousand dollars ($1 0,000) or less (excluding combined Social Security benefits); and
C. Do not have children or other persons over 18 years of age residing within the residence; and
D. Are the owner-occupier of the house; and
E. Have submitted a completed application form along with a copy of the household’s most recent federal tax return to the utility department office for approval or disapproval. Applications must be submitted on an annual basis.
(2) Letter of acceptance or denial. The Manager or designee shall, within 15 days of receiving the application, send a letter of acceptance or the reasons for denial to the applicant.
(3) Appeals. If an applicant feels aggrieved by the Manager’s decision, he or she may appeal to the Council during a regular session.
(4) Temporary reduction of user charge. Residents may, temporarily, have the user charge for refuse service waived based upon the following provisions:
A. Are absent from the property for a period of no less than three (3) consecutive months and no more than six (6) consecutive months in a twelve (12) month period; and
B. Notify the utility department of the dates of property vacancy.
C. User fee will be waived only for monthly trash pick-up service. No waiver will be given for the toter monthly rental fee unless the toter is removed from the property at the request of the resident.
D. Residents must notify the utility department upon return to their residence. Misrepresentation of information may result in retro- active billing of waived fees plus applicable penalty and interest.
(5) Vacant property exemption.
A. Properties that have registered as vacant may be eligible for a temporary exemption.
(Ord. 12-13. Passed 7-9-13.)