§ 51.19 CUSTOMER APPLICATION AND DEPOSIT POLICY.
   (A)   General. New or moving customers applying for utility service shall do so in person at the Business Office; and shall pay a cash deposit and/or an assigned certificate of deposit (CD) or surety bond; or comply with the creditworthy criteria (written confirmation from previous utility companies), as specified below, before any utility service will be rendered. The applicant must submit and sign the "application for utility service", and provide proof of identification (driver's license preferred). The "application for utility service" will be maintained by the Municipal Water and Wastewater Utility Business Office. The application shall include interest and litigation expense provisions. If the applicant is renting, the property owner or manager shall sign the "landlord certification" section on the application in person or provide a copy of their signed lease agreement with the property owner. The Business Office will sign the application, which acknowledges receipt of the completed application, and compliance with the policy as stated herein. Copies of this policy and related forms shall be available at the Utility Business Office.
   (B)   Water deposit requirements (water only customers).
Number of People in Household Residential - Rental or Owner Occupied
Deposit Amount
Number of People in Household Residential - Rental or Owner Occupied
Deposit Amount
1
$ 50
2
50
3
50
4
60
5
80
6
90
7
105
8
120
9
132
10
146
Commercial
100
Industrial
500
Municipal
no charge
 
   (C)   Sewer deposit requirements (sewer only customers).
Number of People in Household Residential - Rental or Owner Occupied
Deposit Amount
Number of People in Household Residential - Rental or Owner Occupied
Deposit Amount
1
$ 60
2
65
3
85
4
105
5
115
6
125
7
130
8
135
9
140
10
150
Commercial
100
Industrial
500
Municipal
no charge
 
   (D)   Water and sewer deposit requirements (water and wastewater customers).
Number of People in Household Residential - Rental or Owner Occupied
Deposit Amount
Number of People in Household Residential - Rental or Owner Occupied
Deposit Amount
1
$100
2
110
3
120
4
130
5
140
6
150
7
160
8
170
9
180
10
190
Commercial
200
Industrial
1,000
Municipal
no charge
 
   (E)   Residential; general.
      (1)   When a previously terminated account (owner-occupied or renter) returns to establish a new account after a period of time has elapsed, the deposit on those accounts which have previously established a negative credit history (see below for "History defined") with the Municipal Water Works and the Municipal Wastewater Works, may be double the regular deposit as stated above and any amounts previously written off as bad debts must be paid and any collection or legal fees paid to outside agencies must be reimbursed before a new account will be established.
      (2)   If an active account (owner occupied or renter) continually becomes or remains past due (determined by multiple application of penalty charges against the account), or service has been discontinued due to non-payment, a deposit equal to double the schedule established above may be required for continuation or reestablishment of service.
   (F)   Residential; owner occupied.
      (1)   The owner occupied residential deposit shall normally be required before utility service will be rendered. The deposit shall be waived, however, and the owner deemed creditworthy, if said owner/applicant provides written confirmation from his or her preceding utility company (the Municipal Water Works and the Municipal Wastewater Works shall be considered a preceding utility company), going back two years, verifying that the applicant:
         (a)   Has been a customer of said previous utility within the past two years;
         (b)   Is not past due on any bill at this time for service rendered by said previous utility;
         (c)   Within the past one year, did not have more than one bill which was delinquent to any utility; and
         (d)   Within the past two years, did not have a service disconnected by any utility for non-payment of a bill for services rendered by said utility.
      (2)   If the owner/applicant has not had service with any utility company within the past two years, he or she must make a deposit as set forth in division (B) above. After two years, the deposit may be refunded subject to the conditions set forth in division (J) of this section.
   (G)   Residential; rental.
      (1)   A residential rental deposit shall always be required before utility service will be rendered.
      (2)   When a rental account moves to a new account, a new "application for utility service" shall be required. The old deposit will be applied to the current and final bills of the old account, and the balance, if any, will be refunded. If the old account is past due on the moving date, a new account will not be established until the old account is brought current. A new deposit is required for each new service. If a customer leaves an unpaid bill the deposit required on the new account may be double the regular deposit requirement.
      (3)   If, after the final bill is prepared, the old deposit is not sufficient to cover the remaining charges on the old account and the old account becomes past due, the new account will be subject to service termination as though the two accounts were one.
   (H)   Non-residential; general.
      (1)   Commercial and industrial accounts shall be required to put down a deposit or, an assigned certificate of deposit (CD) or surety bond before utility service(s) will be rendered. If an account continually becomes or remains past due (determined by multiple application of penalty charges against the account), a deposit equal to double the schedule established above may be required for continuation of service.
      (2)   If an account is disconnected because of non-payment, the deposit and/or certificate of deposit (CD) or surety bond may be used to pay all existing charges. Upon reestablishing the required deposit balance (a new certificate of deposit or surety bond may be required in order to increase the amount covered), the payment of reconnect charges and the payment of any charges not covered by the deposit and/or certificate of deposit or surety bond, services will be restored.
   (I)   History defined. Having a “HISTORY OF BEING PAST DUE" or a "NEGATIVE CREDIT HISTORY" is hereby defined as follows:
      (1)   Having been past due on more than one occurrence during the proceeding twelve month period;
      (2)   Having any service disconnected as a result of non-payment during the preceding 24 month period; and/or
      (3)   Being past due on the date service is terminated. (This includes those customers who request service be terminated at one location and connected at a new location as a result of moving to said new location.)
   (J)   Refunding of deposits.
      (1)   Cash deposits will be applied to the customer's final bill after which the balance, if any, will be refunded. Any balance due after application of the deposit shall be due and payable on or before the date specified on the final bill.
      (2)   Residential owner occupied cash deposits may be refunded after two years, if requested and, if the following conditions are met:
         (a)   Within the past one year, the owner/occupant did not have more than one bill, which became delinquent; and
         (b)   Within the past two years, the owner/occupant did not have a service disconnected for non-payment.
      (3)   Non-residential certificates of deposit (CD) will be returned to the owner with a cancellation of the assignment within a reasonable time after all final charges are paid.
      (4)   Non-residential surety bonds will be canceled and returned to the principal within a reasonable time after all final charges are paid.
      (5)   If the Municipal Water Works deposit has a balance remaining after that utility's charges are satisfied, said balance shall be applied to other charges not so satisfied before any amount of the deposit is refunded.
      (6)   Interest will not be paid on any part of the deposit.
   (K)   Procedure and priority for the receipt and application.
      (1)   All monies received toward the payment of services, including water and wastewater meter deposits or any payments on accounts for the Municipal Water Works and the Municipal Wastewater Works shall be applied and paid in the following priority:
         (a)   First. To any and all outstanding water service bills;
         (b)   Second. To any outstanding sanitation charges; and
         (c)   Third. The remaining portions shall be applied to any wastewater charges.
      (2)   The Municipal Water and Wastewater Works and the Clerk-Treasurer are required to apply the revenues according to division (1) above, with any and all revenue received by them for water, sanitation and wastewater charges.
(Ord. 1985-6, passed 5-6-85; Am. Ord. 2001-28, passed 11-6-01; Am. Ord. 2007-09-25, passed 11-5-07)
Cross-reference:
   Sewer System, Ch. 50