(A) Method. The city’s Utility Office is authorized and directed to render and collect fees or service charges for garbage and refuse service for residential units of four or less in accordance with the fees established in this chapter. The charge shall be collected with the consumer’s regular monthly water and sewer bill and shall be shown as a separate item on the bill. Parties charged a water and sewer fee will also be charged a garbage collection fee. Should a duplex, triplex or four-plex receive only one water and sewer utility billing, said billing for refuse collection will be the monthly rate times the number of units. Should there be a break in water and sewer service, it will be assumed that there is a break in garbage service for the identical time. For dwelling units, not currently being charged for water and sewer usage, but for which there is a garbage collection service provided, the owner or tenant will be assessed the monthly service charge. There shall be a garbage deposit payable by all renters of rental units and chargeable against all rental property; provided, the water and the sewer utilities are held in said renter’s name. The garbage deposit shall be collected by the city’s Utility Department at the time of the filing of an application for service.
(B) Amount. All solid waste fees shall be set by resolution of the City Council.
(C) Penalties: All accounts shall be considered delinquent if not paid by due date on the utility bill after billing by the Fort Madison Utility Billing Office. Delinquent accounts will be assessed a ten percent (10%) penalty. All delinquent accounts are subject to termination of service and further collection without notice.
(D) Delinquent Accounts:
(1) If a delinquent account is not paid within thirty (30) days, the City shall have all rights under law to proceed against the user to collect the unpaid charges, and in addition, the City may proceed for collection of the unpaid charges in any manner provided by law for the collection of a Municipal claim.
(2) Upon institution of collection measures or certification of the delinquent bill to the county treasurer, a service charge of fifteen percent (15) of the total bill, but not less than one dollar ($1.00), shall be added. All associated costs will be attached to the bill for this service.
(Ord. D-48, passed 6-4-2018; Ord. D-100, 7-5-2023)