(A) The town may combine the billing for water, garbage collection, and any other service which may be provided by the town into a single “utility bill.” Any such combined billing shall delineate thereon the amount assessed for each utility service. However, for purposes of payment, determination of delinquency, and disconnection of water service, the billing shall be considered as a single utility bill. The utility billing rates shall be as set forth in the utility payment schedule, as periodically adopted and modified by the Town Council by resolution and is available by request from the town office.
(B) The utility billing period shall be monthly or at such other frequency as shall be set by resolution of the Town Council.
(C) On or before the first day of each utility billing period, the town shall mail or otherwise deliver a written or printed statement to each user showing the amount of charges for culinary water service, sewer, garbage collection, and any other services provided to the user for the preceding billing period, together with any late payment fees or other outstanding charges which shall have been assessed. The statement shall also indicate the place for payment and the due date.
(D) The full amount of the charges for utility services and any other outstanding assessments, as set forth on the statement, shall be due and payable upon receipt of the statement, and shall be considered past due on the twenty-fifth day of the month in which the statement is received (past due date). In the event that payment in full of the charges assessed has not been received by the town prior to the past due date, the town shall be entitled to assess a past due fee in an amount to be set by resolution of the Town Council.
(E) After three business days following the past due date, the town shall provide written notice to each user whose account is past due showing the amount of service charges are past due, and also the amount of past due fees which shall have been assessed.
(F) In the event that the town shall not have received payment in full of all past due utility charges and any past due fees that shall have been assessed prior to the last business day of the month in which the past due notice is issued, the account shall be considered delinquent and the water service shall be subject to shut off by the town without further notification to the user.
(G) In the instance where a premises is occupied by a tenant or person other than the owner, the town may, upon request by the owner, provide duplicate copies of all statements and other notices related to utility services to the tenant.
(H) In the event that the occupant and/or owner shall fail to pay any water or other utility service charges or any past due assessments thereon, or shall use such services in violation of the provisions of this section or the rules and regulations related to utility services, the town may cause the water to be shut off from such premises.
(I) Before any water service which has been shut off as a result of non-payment of service fees shall be restored, all outstanding service charges, past due assessments, and such extra charge for turning the water on and off as the Town Council may have established by resolution shall be paid in full.
(J) The town is authorized and empowered to enforce the payment of all delinquent service charges by any action at law in the corporate name of the town.
(K) It is unlawful for any person, after the water shall have been turned off for non-payment of service charges or other violation of the rules and regulations pertaining to utility services, to turn on the water or allow it to be turned on, or used, without authorization to do so from the town.
(Ord. 2005-03, passed 9-8-2005) Penalty, see § 50.99