(a) If a utility bill has not been paid on or before the due date as provided in this article, a delinquency and a termination notice shall be issued by the City Clerk within five days after the delinquency occurs and mailed to the customer’s last known address and to the occupant of the premises if the occupant and the customer are not the same person.
(b) The notice shall state:
(1) The amount due, plus the delinquency charge;
(2) Notice that utility service will be terminated if the amount due is not paid by the twenty-first day of the month unless such date should fall on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which case payment shall be made by the close of regular business hours on the next business day;
(3) Notice that the customer has the right to a hearing before the designated hearing officer; such hearing to be held on the twenty-first day of the month, unless such date should fall on a Saturday, Sunday or any legal holiday, in which case the hearing shall be held on the next regular business day at 9:00 a.m. at the City Hall;
(4) At such hearing, any interested party may present evidence to show good cause why such water, gas and sewer service should not be terminated. In the absence of an appearance at the hearing, or in the absence of good cause being shown, water, gas and sewer service shall be terminated. The city may disconnect and terminate such utility services after 4:00 p.m. on the day of the hearing; and
(5) A $25 collection fee shall be assessed to each account which is subject to termination following such hearing or upon failure to pay the account pursuant to such notice. Utility services that have been terminated under this provision shall not be reinstated or reconnected until all amounts due the city, including penalties, have been paid in full including an additional reconnection fee of $25 per utility services reconnected.
(Prior Code, § 15-104) (Ord. 1289, passed 12-11-1995; Ord. 1405, passed 6-11-2007)