(a) For the purpose of providing funds for maintaining, repairing, and operating its water and sewerage systems and for its operation and other expenses, including property depreciation allowances, and for interest on and the retirement of bonds as specified in this chapter, the board may make the following charges:
(1) A water and sewer service charge. The rates for water and sewer service shall consist of a minimum or ready-to-serve charge which shall be based upon the size of the meter on the water connection leading to the property, and of a charge for water used, which shall be based upon the amount of water passing through the meter during the period between the last two readings. The meter shall be required to be placed on each water connection by and at the sole expense of the county, and it shall remain the property of the county. The rates shall be classified within Frederick County in whatever manner the board deems advisable. However, the classification shall be based upon the quantities of water used and shall be, insofar as possible, uniform throughout Frederick County. If the board at any time does not have meters available to install in all the properties in a given locality that are connected to the system, then a flat rate shall be charged on properties in which meters have not yet been installed. That rate shall be uniform in each system and based upon the ready-to-serve charge and the amount of water used. Bills for water and sewer charges shall be sent either quarterly or semiannually, as the board determines, to each property served and shall be payable at the office of the board or whatever other place the board designates. The charges shall be a lien upon the property served and collectible as elsewhere provided. If any bill remains unpaid 30 days after the date it was sent, the board, after written notice left upon the premises or mailed to the last known address of the owner, shall turn off the water from the property in question. The water may not be turned on again until the bill has been paid, including a penalty in a reasonable amount to be established by the Board of County Commissioners.
(2) A charge for the upkeep of water and sewer systems against all properties benefitted by any such system or having a connection with any water main or sewer under its operation or ownership. The charge for the upkeep of the water and sewer system, if any, shall be made upon a reasonable basis determined by the board and shall be collected annually in the same manner as are front foot benefit assessments against all property benefitted by or having a connection with a water main or sewer under the operation or ownership of the county. It shall be a lien against the property. The charges shall be based upon the classifications the board establishes and shall be uniform throughout each system within each classification. A charge for the upkeep of water and sewer systems may not be made against any property in any year for which the property is currently subject to a front foot benefit assessment as provided in this chapter.
(b) Before any sewer or water system is added to a consolidated system for either sewer or water rates, the board of county commissioners shall conduct a duly advertised public hearing on the subject. A consolidated system is an arrangement in which a sewer and water system or any combinations thereof are combined as one unit for the establishment of uniform rates.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 2-13, the county may consolidate the income and outlays for all water systems, sewer systems, drainage systems, and solid waste systems it owns for the purpose of:
(i) Maintaining, repairing, and operating water, sewer, drainage, and solid waste systems;
(ii) Establishing rates, charges, and assessments; and
(iii) Paying the principal and interest on any authorized indebtedness.
(Code 1959, § 10A-28; 1968, Chapter 609, § 1; 1979, Chapter 723, § 1; 1987, Chapter 93, § 1; 1988, Chapter 659, § 1; 1991, Chapter 194, § 1; 2009, Chapter 368, § 1)
Editor’s note:
Ch. 723 of the 1979 Acts designated the above section as section 10A-28 of the 1959 county code; however, such section constitutes an amendment and renumbering of former section 10A-21 of the 1959 Code.