(A) (1) Charges for sewer services will be billed quarterly and are due and payable when rendered and shall be deemed delinquent 30 days after the statement is rendered. A late charge established by the Finance Director subject to the approval of the City Manager may be assessed on any unpaid balance for charges that are past due at the time of billing.
(2) It is the responsibility of the person or persons in whose name or names an account has been established to pay all charges in full and on a timely basis. Failure to receive a sewer bill will not excuse the account holder or holders from full and timely payment for the services.
(3) The City reserves the right to vary the dates or length of billing periods temporarily or permanently, if necessary or desirable.
(B) (1) In the event that said bill is not paid before said delinquent date, the City shall take whatever action is necessary on or after said delinquent date to collect any unpaid fees, including prosecuting said claim in a court of appropriate jurisdiction against those who are delinquent and using all lawful ways and means for the collection of said claim. Any account requiring special collection efforts may be assessed collection charges, as established by the Finance Director and subject to the approval of the City Manager.
(2) The City may elect to assign unpaid charges, fees, or assessments to a collection agency or attorney to collect. The City may recover all costs of litigation and collection from the account holder, including reasonable attorney’s fees.
(3) The Finance Director may also post at appropriate buildings and publish in the newspaper or other media a list of property owners and/or renters who have delinquent accounts with the City for sewer service.
(4) Sewer user charges shall be considered delinquent and subject to special collection efforts, up to and including the disconnect of any or all services, for any of the following reasons:
(a) Failure to pay for any services, fees, or assessments by the due date;
(b) Nonpayment of a bill for services rendered to the account holder at a previous location;
(c) Non-sufficient funds checks; or
(d) Stop payments imposed on checks after their tender to the City.
(5) Prior to terminating service for nonpayment of amounts due, the City will send by ordinary mail, written notice of the scheduled disconnect date to the account holder.
(6) Payment for any and all monies due the City, including any reinstatement costs or fees, will be expected prior to the reinstatement of services.
(7) When the City has been required to make special collection efforts on an account three times in a 12-month period, the Finance Director or his or her designee may require an additional deposit amount equal to three times the average of their last three bill amounts.
(Prior Code, § 12-7-2) (Ord. 11-12, passed 7-11-2011)