A. Monthly Billing: Fees assessed for metered water, refuse collection and sanitation services and sewage collection and treatment shall be billed to users on a monthly basis unless otherwise determined and approved by the mayor and city council. Domestic and/or commercial premises occupied for a period of less than one month shall be assessed and billed for the entire month.
B. Combined Billing: Fees assessed for metered water, refuse collection and sanitation services and sewage collection and treatment shall be combined in one monthly bill and mailed or otherwise delivered to users monthly in the month following that month for which services were rendered.
C. Due Date: The fee assessed for services shall become due and payable fifteen (15) days from the date of mailing, or other delivery of each monthly billing. When the fifteenth day falls upon a legal holiday or on a day when the city offices are not open for business, the next regular business day shall be considered the final due date. Where remittances are made by mail, assessed fees shall be deemed paid on the date of mailing as shown by the postmark.
D. Delinquent Charge; Interest: A delinquent charge of ten percent (10%) shall be added to each delinquent bill for each period of thirty (30) days' delinquency or fraction thereof. Interest at the rate of one and one-half percent (11/2%) per month or eighteen percent (18%) per annum shall be charged on the accrued balance of any delinquent account.
E. Discontinuance Of Service: When assessed fees are not paid within thirty (30) days after the due date, the city may collect such billing in any lawful manner and may issue an order to discontinue any or all such services to a delinquent customer.
F. Notice To Owner: In the event that the user is not the owner in possession, should the account become delinquent for sixty (60) days, the owner of said premises shall be notified, in writing, by the city of the account and its delinquency.
G. Responsibility For Payment: The owner of such premises is primarily liable for any charges delineated in this chapter. Partial payment of any tenant shall not constitute a waiver by the city of any amounts due hereunder by the landowner.
H. Lien: In the event that the charges for services are not paid when due and payable in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the city clerk-treasurer or city attorney may make and file a lien against the property within the time and manner provided for filing liens of mechanics and materialmen under the provisions of the laws of the state, and such lien shall bind the premises in the same manner and to the same extent as such mechanics' and materialmen's liens are binding under the state law, and foreclosed in the same general manner. Upon foreclosure thereof, attorney fees and costs shall in a like manner be allowed; or the city may sue to recover the amount due, and for services provided without such lien or assessment.
I. Reconnection Fee: In addition to the foregoing, a mandatory fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be charged to the landowner, his heirs, successors and assigns for restoring services that have been disconnected for any delinquency regardless of whoever received the benefit of said services, if anyone. (Ord. 1993-1, 4-8-1993, eff. 4-15-1993)