(A) (1) The city hereby establishes a sewer service charge system with fees being set by resolution. All revenue collected from users of the wastewater treatment facilities will be used for annual operation, maintenance, replacement and capital costs. Each user shall pay a proportionate share of operation, maintenance and replacement costs based on the users proportionate contribution to the total wastewater loading.
(2) The sewer service charge system shall set forth the projected operation, maintenance and replacement (“OM&R”) costs of all users which shall serve as the basis for the unit charges made to users of the system. The sewer service charge system may also set forth the assessment of additional charges and debt retirement costs which shall be an additional charge.
(3) The sewer service charge system adopted by resolution upon enactment of this subchapter shall be published in the local newspaper and shall be effective upon publication. Subsequent changes in the sewer service rates and charges shall be adopted by City Council resolution and published in the local paper.
(4) Revenues collected through the sewer service charge system shall be deposited in a separate fund known as the Sewer Service Fund.
(B) (1) The city hereby establishes a Sewer Service Fund as an income fund to receive all revenues generated by the sewer service charge system and all other income dedicated to the wastewater treatment facility.
(2) The Sewer Service Fund administered by a designated representative shall be separate and apart from all other accounts. Revenue received by the Sewer Service Fund shall be transferred to the following accounts established as income and expenditure accounts:
(a) Operation and Maintenance;
(b) Equipment Replacement; and
(c) Debt Retirement for the collection and treatment facility.
(C) (1) A designated representative shall maintain a proper system of accounts and records suitable for determining the OM&R and debt retirement costs of the treatment facilities, and shall furnish the City Council with a report of such costs annually.
(2) At that time, the City Council shall determine whether sufficient revenue is being generated for the effective management of the facilities and debt retirement. The City Council will also determine whether the user charges are distributed proportionately. If necessary, the sewer service charge system shall be revised to ensure proportionality of user charges and sufficient funds.
(3) In accordance with state requirements, each user will be notified annually in conjunction with a regular billing of that portion of the sewer service charge attributable to OM&R.
(4) Sewer service charges shall be billed on a bi-monthly basis. Any bill not paid in full 30 days after the due date will be considered delinquent. At that time, the user will be notified regarding the delinquent bill and subsequent penalty. The penalty shall be computed as 1.5% of the original bill and shall be increased by the same percent for every quarter the bill is outstanding.
(D) Where required by the city, users shall install and maintain, at their own expense, meter(s) on their water supply to facilitate measurement of wastewater generated. All users other than single-family residential users shall have meters installed for billing purposes. The meters shall be accessible to the city at all times.
(Ord. 2000-2, passed - -2000; Ord. 2000-8, passed - -2000)