(A) Meter readings. Under normal circumstances, customer meters will be read starting on the seventeenth day of the service month, or the next succeeding working day if the seventeenth is on a weekend. If meters cannot be read because of dogs, cars, brush and the like, a notation shall be made by the meter reader, and the utility office shall estimate the meter reading based upon average usage. The customer will be notified by certified mail that the problem must be resolved before the next meter reading, or the service will be disconnected. Correction of estimated reading, when necessary, will be made in the next succeeding month following removal of problem.
(B) Billing. The current bill, water and/or garbage, is due and payable on the first of the month, and if not paid by the tenth of the month, the eleventh day a late fee of $25 will be added to the bill. Any unpaid portion of a bill exceeding the amount of $5 will initiate the assessment of the stipulated penalty.
(C) Delinquent bills.
(1) On delinquent bills, payment extensions may be granted no more than two times annually. The procedure for defaulting on a payment plan would entail immediate disconnection until the bill is brought to a current status. Defaulting will result in no further extensions being granted for a period of one year.
(2) If a bill is not paid by the eleventh day of the service month, a disconnection list will be prepared on the eleventh day of the service month. Service will be disconnected on the fifteenth of the service month. A follow-up shall be conducted to ascertain that water has not been reconnected by the customer.
(a) If water is reconnected by the customer, this could be considered theft of service. A fee of $100 will be assessed to the already delinquent account. Until this assessed fee and all delinquent amounts are paid in full, the meter and service will not be restored.
(b) If this occurs more than two times, charges of theft of service will be filed in the county. Town Council will have the prerogative of continuing, or not, the service to that customer during the interim.
(c) Senior citizens and/or disabled residents, who regularly receive their government checks between the eleventh and twenty-fifth of each month may be permitted to pay their monthly bills during this time frame, without penalty, providing official documentation is presented, and approved, prior to the bill reaching a delinquent status.
(d) When an account is delinquent and unpaid for 45 days the account will be closed and the deposit applied to the balance. Once the remaining balance and new deposits are paid services will be restored. Court charges will be filed for balances over $100 that remain unpaid for an additional 45 days.
(D) Reconnects. Upon payment of all past due amounts and such other payment necessary to bring the account to a current status, including the gross amount of the bill, plus payment of the reconnection fee, utility service shall be restored. After-hours reconnection fees are in addition to regular fees.
(E) Life support. In the event that town utility service is necessary to sustain a life support system, customers shall be required to notify the town, in writing, in advance that such necessity exists, and the conditions and terms of such necessity. The town reserves the right to verify such necessity, including the requirement of supporting medical documentation. Life support utility service shall not be discontinued by the town for non-payment of bills, unless the customer so affected has been personally notified of the town’s intent to discontinue service and given not less than 30 calendar days to resolve the financial deficiency. Emergency backup system shall be the customer’s responsibility.
(F) Deferred Payment Plan. In life support cases, or extreme hardship cases, requests shall be submitted, in writing, to the Town Secretary. Documentation of stated hardship shall be required. Upon reaching a decision by the appropriate officials, the customers will be notified, in writing. The customer’s utility service may be continued, provided:
(1) Current utility bills are maintained on a current basis;
(2) A reasonable time payment plan is accepted by the town in payment of all delinquent utility accounts, as well as all penalties, and such time period shall not exceed three months;
(3) An amount not to exceed $350 of water tap fee may be remitted in four monthly consecutive installments of $87.50 each; and
(4) If the customer is unable to pay his or her bill by the fifteenth of the service month, he or she may request an extension date for that particular month. The customer must personally sign the request form, which will be countersigned by the town, if approved. The customer is only allowed two extensions per calendar year.
(G) Garbage.
(1) A garbage collection fee will be charged for each water meter in service. Residences maintaining water and not utilizing the town’s water system will be charged a monthly garbage collection fee. As provided in § 51.12, if a partial payment is submitted, said partial payment shall be first applied to the garbage fee and, secondly, to the penalty, if any. Any remaining monies shall lastly be applied to the water fee. If one is a garbage customer only, the customer’s polycart will be reclaimed and the solid waste contractor notified that his or her service be discontinued until full payment is received. All residents shall be required to pay a monthly garbage fee, no exceptions. Chapter 51 prohibits the transporting of garbage over the streets of the town and the state prohibits the burning of household garbage or any other debris such as limbs, twigs, leaves and the like. The garbage fee will be billed monthly with the water bill. The fees charged for these services shall be categorized as residential (one polycart); residential (two polycarts); and commercial fees are itemized in § 50.27. A customer with less than six months’ residency will be eligible for the service of monthly heavy trash and other debris pick up at the beginning of the seventh month. If the necessity for heavy pickup arises during that six-month period, the customer must contact Town Hall, in person, to facilitate his or her request which will include the filing of a request for this service. The customer will be billed based on a prorated fee determined on a percentage basis by the solid waste provider governed by the current rate paid by the town for the heavy trash containers. Failure to pay the expenses incurred will include not only discontinuance of all town services, but also a lien being placed upon his or her property. If one is a renter, his or her landlord must sign the request for service as equally responsible for this service if he or she fails to remit the incurred charges. A customer with less than six months’ residency will be required to pay a prorated fee determined on a percentage basis by the solid waste provider based on the current rate paid by the town.
(2) These rates may change from time to time as necessitated by operational costs and by a favorable vote of the Town Council, present and voting.
(H) Request for termination of service. When a customer requests the termination of service by the town, a request for termination application will be submitted and properly executed. Said application shall constitute a termination contract between the customer and the town. The application must be signed in person by the applicant or a duly authorized agent. Valid photographic identification will be required. Termination of service will require that all fees for past services be paid in full or arrangements made for timely payments. If customer fails to execute the request for termination, all accruing expenses will be billed to that customer. The town shall not be held liable for false or misleading information contained in the request for termination application.
(Ord. passed 8-26-2014)