(A) Charges for water supplied by the waterworks of the city, whether supplied through water meters or in any other manner, shall be determined and computed monthly. The charges shall thereupon be billed, and shall be due and payable, within 20 days of the date of billing. Payments made after the due date shall be subject to a late payment charge of interest at the rate of 5% per month for each month or part thereof in which the charges remain unpaid.
(B) Payments shall be made in the office of the City Administrator or at other place within the city as may be designated. The charges are hereby made a primary obligation of the owner and each occupant of the premises served and shall constitute a continuing paramount lien upon the premises until paid in full. All charges shall be billed to the owner or occupant of the property, however, the city shall not be responsible for division of the charges among tenants or other occupants of the property unless each premise is separately metered.
(C) (1) Unless a special mailing address is placed on file with the Administrator, bills will be mailed to the address of the property supplied upon failure to pay any charge within 30 days after payment is due, the city may elect to discontinue water service to the premises for which the charges were incurred, and to any other premises within the city owned or occupied by a person responsible for payment of the charges. At least 15 days prior to the discontinuance of service, the Administrator shall mail notice of the intended discontinuance to the owner and occupant of the premises affected.
(2) The notice shall specify the date upon which the discontinuance is to be effective, the reason therefor, and the amount of charges due and unpaid. The notice shall be deemed sufficiently given if mailed to the owner or occupant at the address of the premises affected, and neither the failure of the notice to comply with the terms hereof shall prevent the city from making the discontinuance of service.
(D) Upon any discontinuance for non-payment of charges, no further water service shall be furnished to the premises until all delinquent and current charges have been paid, and until payment of a $28 charge for restoring service. In addition to or in lieu of the foregoing, the Administrator is authorized to certify any unpaid and delinquent charges to the County Auditor for collection on behalf of the city with the other taxes levied against the premises.
(E) In addition to or in lieu of either of the foregoing, the city may bring action in any court of competent jurisdiction against the owner or occupant of the premises served, or all of them, for the collection of the delinquent charges and, in any action, the city shall be entitled to recover all expenses of collection including reasonable attorney’s fees.
(Ord. 30.4, passed 9-22-1997)