A. Payments not received by the city finance office prior to the eleventh day of each month shall be considered delinquent and subject to disconnection. Per city code, "friendly reminder notices" are prepared on the twelfth of each month, or the following work day, on unpaid account balances over twenty dollars ($20.00) reminding utility customers of the delinquent balance and the scheduled shutoff date. The "friendly reminder notice" is a two-part form and the original will be mailed to the customer by first class mail and the second part will be retained in the city finance office. The "friendly reminder notice" allows ten (10) days for payment. The ten (10) days may be altered due to the fact the city does not disconnect services on Fridays, weekends, a day preceding a holiday, or a holiday; disconnection of services will then be scheduled for the next work day following. Payment(s) arrangements are accepted on disconnect notices if paid in full prior to the next utility billing date. A "final utility notice" of disconnection shall be completed and signed by the city administrator, the finance officer, or mayor for all accounts to be disconnected. The "final utility notice" shall be hand-delivered to the owner or resident the day before the scheduled shutoff or if no person is present to receive the "final utility notice," the "notice" shall be posted on the main entrance door of such property. A late payment fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be assessed to those accounts that have received a hand-delivered “final utility notice”. Payment on the account is due prior to one p.m. on the scheduled shutoff day. If payment is not received prior to one p.m. on the scheduled shutoff day, water department personnel will disconnect services immediately. Water department personnel cannot make arrangements of any type with the customer at the property. Any such arrangement may only be made with the city finance office in writing.
B. Once the services have been disconnected for nonpayment, reestablishment of services with the city requires the following:
1. The account must be paid in full (zero balance);
2. The utility customer must pay a turn-on fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), if restored during normal water department working hours of seven a.m. to three p.m., Monday through Friday;
3. The customer will be required to pay a seventy-five-dollar ($75.00) fee per turn-on, if services are restored after normal water department working hours of seven a.m. to three p.m., Monday through Friday.
C. Appeals on disputed charges shall be addressed to the Custer City finance officer, by written notice, between the hours of eight a.m. and five p.m., Monday through Friday. The finance officer is authorized to correct any errors in the account. The customer shall be given an opportunity to appeal the decision of the finance officer if the appeal is denied at this level. The next step to appeal disputed charges shall be the city administrator or mayor; if there is still no resolution, then it will be brought before the Custer City common council at its next regularly scheduled meeting and service shall be continued until the appeal is heard.
D. Payment plan arrangements for past due accounts will be:
Residential—current bill amount in full each month plus a monthly percentage of the delinquent amount large enough to settle the account within the maximum time limit of one year;
Commercial—current bill amount in full each month plus a monthly minimum of ten (10) percent of the delinquent amount. Failure to comply with the payment plan arrangement will result in immediate shutoff without notice. (Ord. 715, 2012; Ord. 652 (part), 2008; Ord. 620 (part), 2005: Ord. 603 (part), 2004)