(A) If the premises served are occupied by a person (“customer”) other than the owner thereof:
(1) Statements for municipal utility and other charges shall be rendered to the customer at the usual times and in the usual manner;
(2) A delinquency or disconnection notice shall be sent to or served upon the customer for any account unpaid after its due date; and
(3) A notice of intent to disconnect shall be served by mail or personally upon the owner of the premises at least 5 days prior to the date of disconnection.
(Ord. 39, 5th Series, eff. 12-29-1994; Ord. 46, 5th Series, eff. 4-12-1995)
(B) Except as to the furnishing of retail natural, manufactured or mixed gas or electric service to or for the public, and to the extent otherwise authorized by state law, each charge levied by and pursuant to this chapter is made a lien upon the premises served if the premises are located within the city. All such charges which are on September 30 of each year more than 30 days past due and having been properly billed to the owner and occupant of the premises served shall be certified by the City Administrator to the County Auditor between October 1 and 10 of each year, and the City Administrator in so certifying the charges to the County Auditor shall specify the amount thereof, the description of the premises served, the name of the owner thereof and the amount so certified shall be extended by the Auditor on the tax rolls against the premises in the same manner as other taxes and shall be collected by the County Treasurer and paid to the city along with other taxes.
(C) (1) As to the furnishing of retail natural, manufactured or mixed gas or electric service to or for the public, and to the extent otherwise authorized by state law, the city shall not:
(a) Recover or attempt to recover payment for a tenant’s outstanding bill or charge from a landlord, property owner or manager, or manufactured home park owner, or manufactured home dealer who has not contract for the service;
(b) Condition service on payment of an outstanding bill or other charge for utility service due upon the outstanding account of a previous customer or customers when all of the previous customers have vacated the property; or
(c) Place a lien on the landlord’s or owner’s property for a tenant’s outstanding bill or charge.
(2) The city may recover or attempt to recover payment and place a lien on the property for a tenant’s outstanding bill or charge from a property owner where the manager, acting as the owner’s agent, contracted for the utility service.
(Ord. 94, 5th Series, eff. 8-13-1998)
(1998 Code, § 3.04, Subd. 8)