For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BILL. The statement of account for municipal utility services rendered by the city to a customer and due and payable to the city by the customer.
CITY. The municipal corporation known as the City of Jonesboro, and any municipal subdivision or department of the city or any designated agent authorized to act on behalf of the city.
CUSTOMER. The owner of the property, or renter, financial business, and/or whoever’s name is on an application, is ultimately responsible for water, wastewater, and/or stormwater bills for the property. The CUSTOMER shall be required to make a suitable deposit for protection of the utility. The real property owner may have a tenant pay for all utilities or require tenants to pay part of utilities. The real property owner may pay for part and/or all utilities.
DEFERRED. A delay in payment of the bill to prevent disconnect of services.
DELINQUENT CUSTOMER. Any person, firm, corporation, or entity who fails to pay any current charges or portion thereof for any municipal utility by the due date of the bill.
DEPOSIT. An amount specified in the city’s various deposit rate ordinances that is charged to all customers as a guarantee against the non-payment of bills for service. The DEPOSIT is collected from every utility. An additional deposit will be required for a customer who has been disconnected two times in a six-month period. The DEPOSIT shall be in cash only, money orders, or other approved payment methods, which may be a fee for such option. All deposits must be paid in the utility office. No online payments will be accepted. DEPOSITS shall remain as long as the customer has a utility with the city.
DISCONNECT. The water services shall not be made available to any person, firm, corporation, or entity due to non-payment. DISCONNECT shall not take place during a time when the office is closed anytime within four hours of DISCONNECT, prior to a weekend or holiday. Utility services employees shall post notice upon disconnect such notice shall state reason and lists the utility billing office phone number. At any time, if a customer was DISCONNECTED by mistake, steps should be taken to reconnect the customers without any additional charges. The utility service personnel who is on call and receives such a call shall inform the City Clerk-Treasurer of such prior to reconnection.
MUNICIPAL UTILITY. The water, sewer, or stormwater departments or system of the city and the owner of each utility.
PROMISSORY AGREEMENT. A contract between customer and the city allowing the customer to make payments to the city to pay any current or past due charges or portion thereof for any municipal utility within a ten-month period, which may be extended to a longer period not to exceed 13 months only with board approval in unusual situations.
(Ord. 1-2022, passed 3-8-2022)