(a) The City shall be responsible for the maintenance and repairs of the sanitary sewer main from the trunk of the main to the end of the "Y" branch connection. The portion of the line from the end of the "Y" branch connection to the termination point is the responsibility of the property owner. The property owner is also responsible for the operation, cleaning, maintenance, repair and reconstruction of the building sewer from the origin of the service line to the "Y" branch connection termination point on the sewer main regardless if the service line occupies easements or the public right-of-way. The property owner is also responsible for obtaining any additional permits to open cut any street, road, or highway from the Public Works Department.
(b) The City Manager or his designee may issue to any landowner a written order to repair any portion of a private service line, at the owner's sole expense which has become so damaged or disintegrated as to be unfit for further use, or creates a serious risk to the public or which is in such condition as to permit infiltration into the wastewater system. The City may further order any residence or inhabited building vacated if affected by the damaged or disintegrated sewer line. The City shall provide notice by personal service, or by certificate of mailing to the owner to the tax mailing address at the County Auditor. All repairs shall be completed within thirty (30) days after written notification from the City, except that the City Manager or his designee may shorten that period in cases of emergency or high risk to public health. If the owner fails or refuses to complete repairs, the City may determine such sewer line to be a public nuisance and cause repairs to be completed and, thereafter, assess the owner for the costs of such repairs. If the owner fails to pay the cost of such repairs as billed, the City may, at its discretion, certify said charges to the County Auditor for placement on the tax duplicates for said property for collection as real estate taxes, and/or may file a separate action in the appropriate Court. (Ord. 19-17. Passed 5-8-17.)