(a) For the purpose of this chapter, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
LANDLORD. Any person, firm, corporation or entity leasing, renting, letting or permitting premises to be occupied or used by another.
(b) Landlords to which the city supplies utility services, including electric, water or sewage services, shall be liable to the city for all utility charges under the conditions established in this section.
(c) Under the circumstances listed herein, landlord liability for electric, water and sewage charges is concurrent with any person or persons residing upon, renting, leasing or letting the real estate owned by landlord.
(d) (1) Before a landlord can be held personally responsible for delinquent electric, water or sewage charges, the city must send to the landlord, by certified mail, return receipt requested, a notice of delinquency within five days after the delinquency occurs.
(2) The notice shall state:
(A) The amount due, plus penalties and late payment charge, and the location where services have been provided;
(C) If the landlord does not authorize or direct the city to maintain utility services to the premises being served, the landlord shall be relieved of any liability or responsibility for delinquent utility bills or charges, but city shall not be held responsible for loss, damage or injury caused by termination of utility services.
(e) Upon written request by the landlord, the cash deposit required before connecting utility service may be increased to a maximum of one and one-half times the highest monthly billing during the previous 24-month period.
(f) In the event a customer receiving city utility services shall move from a property served by the city utility services, leaving an unpaid bill for utilities, no city utility service shall be connected or furnished to said customer until the delinquent account or bill has been paid in full.
(g) In the event the procedures in division (d) above are followed and a landlord is obligated to pay utility service charges for electric, water or sewage services, but the same are not paid within the time and in the manner designated by ordinance of the city, the City Clerk shall certify to the County Clerk, the legal description of the property for which a delinquency occurs, together with the amount of such charge or charges and any applicable penalties remaining unpaid. Such charge or charges and any applicable penalties shall be placed on the tax rolls of said real estate for collection, subject to the same penalties and collected in like manner as other taxes are by law collectible and shall become a lien upon the real property so served.
(h) The city is hereby authorized to refuse the delivery of utility services to any customer or real property enjoying the use of the sewage disposal system, water system or electric system until such time as all charges and applicable penalties are fully paid.
(1987 Code, § 15-118) (Ord. 712, passed - -; Ord. 792, passed 4-6-1992)