(A) Charges. The Council shall by resolution fix all charges and penalties for late payment for water and sewer service and for garbage and rubbish hauling rates for dwellings and shall similarly fix the rates by which such charges shall be computed. All such utility bills may be collected as provided for water billing by division (C) of this section. Volume charges for water and sewer service for periods for which an accurate meter reading is not available, will be estimated at the highest quarterly reading in the preceding year, adjusted for any unusual use. If no prior consumption history for the current property owner exists, city staff will propose a reasonable alternative estimate to be approved by the City Council.
(B) Owner liability for charges. In billing water service the rates shall be applied separately for the consumption through each meter. The property owner shall be liable for water supplied to the property owner’s property, whether the owner is occupying the property or not, and any charges unpaid shall be a lien upon the property.
(C) Statements; delinquent bills, shut-off for non-payment; resumption of services.
(1) Accounting. The administration services of the city shall provide for a method of periodic accounting and recording of water consumed at each metered location throughout the city. Bills shall then be calculated to include connecting and disconnecting charges; meter replacement charges; minimum charges for availability of water services, regardless of connection or usage; and consumption charges as necessary and appropriate for revenue for the maintenance and operation of the city water works facilities.
(2) Statements. The administrative service shall mail said water bills to the owner at the address listed for each specified meter location or to such address as the owner of record may request in writing.
(3) Due date. Water bills are due and payable on the tenth day of the month following the date of the invoice. Any bill not paid by the close of business on the tenth day of the month following its mailing is delinquent, at which time a charge established by the City Council shall be added to the billing.
(4) Delinquent bills. The administrative service shall ascertain all water bills that are delinquent after the tenth day of the month and send notice of such delinquency to the occupant of the metered location by the twentieth day of the same month. Said notice shall include a statement that fees and interest will be applied if the delinquent bill is not paid in full by the due date, and if water bills are not paid, the bills may be levied against the owner’s property and certified for collection with property taxes annually.
(5) Certification of delinquent bills. The Council may certify unpaid and delinquent water bills to the County Auditor annually for collection pursuant to the provisions of M.S. § 444.075, as it may be amended from time to time.
(6) Shut-off for non-payment.
(a) The water service to any property that is not subject to collection pursuant to the special assessment provisions of M.S. § 444.07. is subject to shut-off for non-payment upon 30 days’ written notice to the property owner and any occupants or lessees, subject to the provisions of the Cold Weather Rule M.S. § 216B.097.
(b) Any disconnection fee established by the City Council under section 4.303(A)(4) above applies to shut-off for non-payment under this section.
(c) Reinstatement of water service following shut-off for non-payment requires either payment in-full of the delinquent amount. Reinstatement following a change in ownership requires payment in-full.
(D) Water service bills payable at Finance Department. All bills for water and other services are payable at the office of the Finance Department during regular working hours, or as otherwise provided by said Finance Department.
(Ord. 1227, passed 8-26-91; Am. Ord. 1677, passed 4-25-22)