A. Connection Fees: The base rate for connection to the city system shall be as determined from time to time by resolution of the city council and may be changed from time to time by resolution or minute entry of the city council so as to provide sufficient revenue to pay for basic connection costs. If any connection is unusual in any way, the base rate shall be adjusted to reflect the increased cost of dealing with the unusual circumstances. The increase in any connection cost above the base rate is to be decided by the city maintenance man after taking into account the cost of materials, labor, equipment, and miscellaneous items.
B. Rates:
1. Imposed: Sewer service charges are hereby imposed for each connection to the city sanitary sewage system based upon quantity flow of sewage into the system which shall provide revenue sufficient to pay the connection, operation, and maintenance and repay bonded indebtedness and provide for the reserve fund for said system, all as determined from time to time by resolution or minute entry of the city council.
2. Change In Rates: The city council may change said sewer service charge and provide for charges for other than normal domestic sewage from time to time by resolution or minute entry of the city council without the necessity of amending this chapter.
C. User Other Than Normal Domestic Sewage: For any industrial or other nondomestic connection with respect to which the quantity of the sewage is greater, or the character of the sewage requires plant treatment and/or operations greater than that for normal domestic sewage, the sewer service charges as adopted from time to time by resolution or minute entry of the city council, as based upon the recommendation of the city engineer, shall be adjusted upward on an equitable basis as determined by the council by resolution from time to time and set forth in a schedule of charges. For the purpose of this section, the quantity for normal domestic sewage shall be deemed to be an average of approximately four hundred (400) gallons per day.
D. Relief From Unjust Rates:
1. Application For Relief: The owner or occupant of any premises who, by reason of special circumstances, finds that the charges as determined pursuant to either subsection A or subsection B of this section, are unjust or inequitable as applied to his premises, may make written application to the council, stating the circumstances and requesting a different basis of charges for sewer services to his premises. (Ord. 137, 12-13-1990; amd. 2008 Code)
2. Application Approved: If such application be approved, the council may, by resolution, fix and establish fair and equitable rates for such premises to be effective as of the date of such application and continuing during the period of such special circumstances. The council may, on its own motion, find that by reason of special circumstances, said charges are unjust and inequitable as applied to particular premises and may, by resolution, fix and establish fair and equitable sewer service charges for such premises during the period of such special circumstances, or any part thereof.
E. Annual Review Of User Charges: The city council shall, annually after the date of adoption hereof, review user charges and revise the same to reflect the actual treatment works operation and maintenance cost and requirements for the reserve fund and for bond redemption.
F. Revenue Of Sewage System: The user charge system of the city shall generate sufficient revenue at all times to offset the cost of all treatment works operation and maintenance of the city as well as funds for bond redemption and reserve funds as required by law. (Ord. 137, 12-13-1990)