(a) Time of installation. Water meters will be installed as soon after the issuance of the building permit as is practical for the town.
(b) Installation and ownership. The town shall install and retain ownership of all water meters, which are connected directly to a town maintained water line.
(c) Responsibility for meter and water usage. The person or firm to which the building permit is issued shall be responsible for both the meter and the water usage through the meter until such time as a certificate of occupancy is issued.
(d) Lost, stolen, or damaged meters. The person or firm to which the building permit is issued shall be responsible for purchasing from the town a replacement meter in case the original meter is lost, stolen, or damaged. The cost of such replacement shall be the actual cost of the meter plus 20 percent for administrative and installation cost. The town shall not issue a certificate of occupancy until such time as all such replacement charges have been paid in full and a fully operational meter of the correct size and type is in place at the location for which the certificate of occupancy is requested.
(e) Water usage through the meter. The person or firm to which the building permit is issued shall be responsible for the utility payment for all water usage through the meter. The cost of such usage shall be at the same rate as all other customers as established in the annual operating budget of the town. The town may issue a certificate of occupancy before the utility bill is paid; however, the person or firm to which the building permit was issued may not establish any other utility account with the town until such utility bill is paid in full.
(f) Penalties for violations.
(1) Civil.
a. Any violation of this section shall subject the offender to a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000.00, to be recovered by the town in a civil action in the nature of debt if the offender does not pay the penalty within the prescribed period of time after he has been cited for violation.
b. The offender shall be issued a written citation by delivery in person or mailed by certified or registered mail. The civil penalty must be paid within 72 hours of receipt of written citation by the offender.
(2) Criminal. In addition to, or in lieu of, the remedies authorized in subsection (e)(1) above, any violation of this section may be prosecuted as a criminal matter.
(Code 1982, § 19-46; Ord. No. 84-24, § 1, 12-13-1984; Ord. No. 01-005, 4-12-2001)
State law reference(s)--Penalties for ordinance violations, G.S. 14-4, 160A-175.