(A) Such rates and charges shall be prepared, billed and collected by the city in the manner provided by law and ordinance.
(1) The rates and charges for all users shall be prepared and billed monthly.
(2) The rates and charges may be billed to the tenant or tenants occupying the properties served, unless otherwise requested in writing by the owner, but such billing shall in no way relieve the owner from the liability in the event payment is not made as herein required. The owners of properties served, which are occupied by a tenant or tenants, shall have the right to examine the collection records of the city for the purpose of determining whether bills have been paid by such tenant or tenants, provided that such examination shall be made at the office at which those records are kept and during the hours that such office is open for business.
(3) As is provided by statute, all rates and charges not paid when due are declared to be delinquent and a penalty of 10% of the amount of the rates or charges shall thereupon attach thereto. The time at which such rates or charges shall be paid is now fixed at 15 days after the date of mailing of the bill.
(4) It is further ordained, pursuant to state law, that if any sewer charge has been due and unpaid for a period of 30 days, the city, and the Board of Public Works therefor, may discontinue water service upon a ten day written notice, prior to the day upon which the water service is to be disconnected. Be it further ordained, by authority of state law, that any sewer charge unpaid shall be a lien against any real estate owned by the debtor and shall attach as a lien at the time of the filing of the same in the County Recorder's office and shall be supplier to, and take precedence over all other liens, except taxes, and those sewer charges shall be by County Auditor, added to the tax duplicate of the county, against the real estate involved, payable to the city.
(B) This city shall certify to the County Auditor a list of such delinquent rates or charges, including a penalty as provided by law. Such list will include the name or names of the owner or owners of each and every lot, parcel of real estate or building involved, and a description of such premises, and the Auditor will record the same in the office of the County Recorder.
(C) Not withstanding the above, the city reserves the right to take any legal action required to collect delinquent sewer charges, including the right to refuse all utility services to a new tenant renting, or owner purchasing, property that is in arrears on sewer charges, until sewer charges are paid in full to the utility company.
(`94 Code, 53.05) (Ord. 5-1994, passed 6-6-94; Am. Ord. 13-2013, passed 6-3-13)