(a) No person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof, without first obtaining a written permit from the City. No building sewer shall be covered until after it has been inspected and approved by the City on behalf of the IRUA.
(b) The property owner or the contractor as his or her agent shall make application for a sewer permit on a form furnished by the City. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications or other information required by this chapter or considered pertinent in the judgment of the City. A tap-in fee established by resolution of the City Council shall be paid to the Treasurer at the time the application is filed. A plumbing permit is also required. If a street opening is required to make the lead connection, an additional attachment to the permit must be completed in accordance with the City utility policy, which may be in the form of a permit issued by the local road commission.
(c) All costs, expenses and liabilities incident to the installation, connection and maintenance of the sewer service lateral line shall be borne by the property owner. The property owner shall indemnify and save harmless the City from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the sewer service lateral line.
(1) It shall be the duty of each property owner to maintain, clean and repair the sewer service lateral line at his or her own expense as necessary to keep the lateral line free and clear of obstructions and in good working order.
(2) It shall be the duty of the City to maintain, clean and repair as necessary at its expense the sewer collection system. The City may repair or replace any broken or crushed sewer service lateral line at the property owner's expense. The City shall not be responsible for cleaning or maintenance of sewer service lateral lines at the City's own expense.
(3) If any property owner fails to maintain a private sewer line as required by this chapter, in addition to the other penalties dictated, the sewer may be declared a public nuisance by the Ionia County Health Officer and the defect may be corrected by the City. Any costs so incurred shall be assessed against the property and become a lien on the property if not timely paid.
(d) A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building, except that where one building stands at the rear of another or on an interior lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, yard or driveway, the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building.
(e) Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the City, to meet all requirements of this section.
(f) The sewer service lateral line shall be constructed of materials as required in the City of Ionia's municipal standards, as amended.
(Ord. 499. Passed 4-9-13.)