(A) When the Wastewater Utility Manager finds that a user has violated, or continues to violate, any provision of this chapter, a wastewater discharge permit or order issued hereunder, or any other pretreatment standard or requirement, the Wastewater Utility Manager may fine such user in accordance with I.C. 8-1.5-3-8 to the amount not to exceed $2,500 for the first offense and the amount not to exceed $7,500 for each subsequent offense. Such fines shall be assessed on a per violation, per day basis. In the case of monthly or other long term average discharge limits, fines shall be assessed for each day during the period of violation. The user shall also be responsible for all costs, damages, expenses, attorney’s fees, and fines levied by regulatory agencies due to and attributed to the user’s noncompliance.
(B) Unpaid charges, accrued interest, attorney’s fees, fines, and penalties shall, after 60 calendar days, be assessed an additional penalty of 10% of the unpaid balance, and interest shall accrue thereafter at a rate of 1.8% per month. A lien against the user’s property will be sought for unpaid charges, fines, and penalties.
(C) Users desiring to dispute such fines must file a written request for the Wastewater Utility Manager to reconsider the fine along with full payment of the fine amount within 30 days of being notified of the fine. Where a request has merit, the Wastewater Utility Manager may convene a hearing on the matter. In the event the user’s appeal is successful, the payment, together with any interest accruing thereto, shall be returned to the user. The Wastewater Utility Manager may add the costs of preparing administrative enforcement actions, such as notices and orders, to the fine.
(D) Issuance of an administrative fine shall not be a bar against, or a prerequisite for, taking any other action against the user.
(Ord. 2008-38, passed 12-10-2008; Ord. 2019-25, passed on 5-13-2020)