(A) The property owner, regardless of the property being occupied by a tenant, shall be continuously responsible for maintaining and keeping the sewer pipe leading to and between the plumbing system of his or her premises to the city’s connecting sewer clean and free from obstruction, and shall not cause, suffer or permit any article or thing, liquid as well as solid, to be introduced into the pipe which causes a stoppage thereof. In the event of any such obstructions or stoppage the Council shall have the right to cut off the water connection, which shall not be reconnected until such sewer pipe is cleaned and maintained properly; and in the further event of the failure of such user to remedy such obstruction or stoppage, the Council shall have the right to enter upon said premises and make necessary repairs, the costs and expenses of which shall be included as part of the charges against such premises. The property owner is responsible to advise tenants of their responsibilities in maintaining the sewer, but the actual responsibility as to repairs and costs incurred by the city for the property sewer line shall be in the owner of the property.
(B) In furtherance of the property owner’s responsibility to maintain and keep sewer pipe clean and free from obstruction, this is of particular concern when the use of a grinder pump is required to provide sewer service to the property. The property owner, or through direction of the property owner to the tenant or occupant of the property, shall not cause or permit any article or thing, liquid as well as solid, including rags, large obstacles that are not soluble or anything type of object not being a normal discharge into the sewer system. The property owner shall be responsible for the actions of his, her or its tenants or occupants of the property. Should the grinder pump be damaged due to the negligence of the property owner or his, her or its tenants or occupants, the property owner is responsible to replace or repair the grinder pump as is necessary to provide sewer service to the property. Should damage occur to the grinder pump, the property owner shall be given notice by certified mail return receipt requested or by personal service stating that the grinder pump was damaged, what caused the damage and the estimated cost of said repair or replacement. Should damage occur to the grinder pump requiring replacement or repair and the property owner is the name in which the sewer account is in, the entire cost of the replacement and/or damage shall be pro-rated over a 12-month period and applied to the sewer billing for said service with the entire amount of the expense to be paid in a 12-month period of time. Should the property owner not be the name in which the sewer account is listed, the property owner shall have a 12-month period of time in which to pay the cost of repairs or replacement. Should this not be paid appropriately, the city shall have the right to file a suit in Circuit Court of the county or Magistrate Court to seek judgement against the property owner.
(Ord. 25, passed 3-13-2018)