A. Rate Classifications:
1. Each residential dwelling unit within an individual building containing not more than three (3) separate dwelling units shall be charged at the residential rate for water and sewer use.
2. All buildings and properties owned and occupied by a taxing district for governmental, Municipal, library or school use shall be charged at the Municipal rate for water and sewer use.
3. All buildings and properties occupied by a charitable, religious or not for profit organization that is an exempt organization under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, and actually and exclusively used for charitable, religious or beneficent purposes, shall be charged at the Municipal rate for water and sewer use.
4. All buildings, properties and customers which are not classified within the residential or Municipal rate classifications, shall be classified as commercial customers and charged at the commercial rate for water and sewer use.
5. Each residential dwelling unit, Municipal rate customer premises and commercial rate customer premises that is verified to be: a) vacant and unoccupied for more than ninety (90) days, or b) is currently suspended from water service or sewer service, shall be reclassified as a suspended rate account and charged at the applicable suspended rate for water and sewer use, and charged the reactivation fee as noted in F, 3 of this section.
B. Residential Rate: Effective with the billing cycle commencing July 1, 2022:
1. The minimum combined water use and sewer service charge for all residential rate customers is hereby fixed and established as thirty-five dollars and fifty-five cents ($35.55) per monthly billing period, based upon actual or estimated meter readings of water furnished to the user for the monthly billing period up to, but not exceeding, three thousand (3,000) gallons.
2. The water and sewer user charge for usage in excess of three thousand (3,000) gallons of water furnished a month shall be at the following rates:
a. Water user charge: Ten dollars and forty-four cents ($10.44) per one thousand (1,000) gallons.
b. Sewer user charge: One dollar and forty-one cents ($1.41) per one thousand (1,000) gallons.
C. Municipal Rate: Effective with the billing cycle commencing July 1, 2022:
1. The minimum combined water use and sewer service charge for all Municipal rate customers is hereby fixed and established as forty dollars and seventy-seven cents ($40.77) per monthly billing period, based upon actual or estimated meter readings of water furnished to the user for the monthly billing period up to, but not exceeding, three thousand (3,000) gallons.
2. The water and sewer user charge for usage in excess of three thousand (3,000) gallons of water furnished a month shall be at the following rates:
a. Water user charge: Eleven dollars and seventy-five cents ($11.75) per one thousand (1,000) gallons.
b. Sewer user charge: One dollar and eighty-four cents ($1.84) per one thousand (1,000) gallons.
D. Commercial Rate: Effective with the billing cycle commencing July 1, 2022:
1. The minimum combined water use and sewer service charge for all commercial rate customers is hereby fixed and established as one hundred and five dollars ($105.00) per monthly billing period, based upon actual or estimated meter readings of water furnished to the user for the monthly billing period up to, but not exceeding, three thousand (3,000) gallons.
2. The water and sewer user charge for usage in excess of three thousand (3,000) gallons of water furnished a month shall be at the following rates:
a. Water user charge: Sixteen dollars and twenty-nine dollars ($16.29) per one thousand (1,000) gallons.
b. Sewer user charge: Two dollars and nineteen cents ($2.19) per one thousand (1,000) gallons.
E. Suspended Rate: Effective with the billing cycle commencing July 15, 2020:
1. The water user charge for all residential and Municipal suspended rate customers is hereby fixed and established as twenty dollars ($20.00) per monthly billing period.
2. The water user charge for all commercial suspended rate customers is hereby fixed and established as forty dollars ($40.00) per monthly billing period.
3. The sewer user charge for residential and Municipal suspended rate customers shall be five dollars ($5.00) per month.
4. The sewer user charge for all commercial suspended rate customers shall be ten dollars ($10.00) per month.
F. Service Charges: The following charges shall be effective with the billing cycle commencing July 15, 2020, and shall be applied to all customers:
1. One hundred dollars ($100.00) for missed appointments to turn on water service. An appointment will not be considered missed if the customer calls the main number of the Township (847-455-8616) during business hours not later than one (1) full business day prior to the turn on appointment to cancel or reschedule the appointment.
2. One hundred dollars ($100.00) for missed appointments for meter inspection. An appointment will not be considered missed if the customer calls the main number of the Township (847-455-8616) during business hours not later than one (1) full business day prior to the meter inspection to cancel or reschedule the appointment.
3. The reactivation of service to the premises of a suspended rate account shall be subject to payment of the account balance associated with the premises, and a reconnection fee as follows:
a. Seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) for accounts with a balance due of less than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00).
b. One thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for accounts with a balance due between five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) and ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).
c. One thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) for accounts with a balance due of more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).
4. The fee for replacing a missing or damaged water meter is six hundred fifty dollars ($650.00).
5. The fee for replacing a missing or damaged MTU is four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00).
6. The fee for unauthorized removal or tampering with a meter or MTU shall not be less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), plus the applicable replacement fee.
7. Water service to a residential dwelling unit, Municipal rate customer premises or commercial rate customer premises may be terminated for a period of time upon written request and payment of a five hundred dollar ($500.00) winterization fee.
G. Sanitary Sewer Service Only Rate: Effective with the billing cycle commencing August 1, 2020, the minimum sewer service charge is hereby fixed and established as three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00) per monthly billing period for all Municipal and commercial rate customers who only receive sanitary sewer service.
H. Senior Freeze Minimum Monthly Rate: Effective with the billing cycle commencing July 1, 2022:
1. The minimum combined water use and sewer service charge for all residential rate customers receiving a senior freeze exemption on their second installment residential Real Estate Tax bill is hereby fixed and established as twenty-eight dollars and twenty-nine cents ($28.29) per monthly billing period, based upon actual or estimated meter reading of water furnished to the user for the monthly billing period up to, but not exceeding, three thousand (3,000) gallons.
2. Application for the senior freeze minimum monthly rate is required annually for the rate applied each January 1st through December 31st. The senior freeze minimum monthly rate application period for each year starts on each December 15th of the prior year and closes on January 31st of the next year (e.g., December 15, 2022 through January 31, 2023).
3. Transfer of owner interest at any time will immediately move the monthly minimum rate to the rate established in subsection B1 of this section.
I. Connection Fees: The charge for each initial connection to the combined system shall be based upon the diameter of the pipe furnishing water service, as follows:
1 inch diameter | $ 1,500.00 |
1 1/2 inch diameter | 2,500.00 |
2 inch diameter | 4,000.00 |
3 inch diameter | 5,000.00 |
4 inch diameter | 7,500.00 |
6 inch diameter | 10,500.00 |
8 inch diameter | 14,000.00 |
J. Additional Connection And Disconnection Fees:
1. Additional Connection Fees: The charge for each connection after the initial connection to the combined system shall be the cost incurred by the Superintendent in making such connection.
2. Disconnection Fees: The cost of building sewer and water service line disconnections from the combined system performed by the Township shall be as follows:
Residential building sewer and/or water service line | $2,500.00 |
Commercial building sewers and/or water service lines | $5,000.00, or time and material cost plus $500.00, whichever is greater |
Fire suppression systems | $5,000.00, or time and material cost plus $500.00, whichever is greater |
When contracted by Township | Contractor fee plus 10 percent |
K. Estimated Charges; Interest On Unpaid Bills:
1. In cases where it shall be found that a water or sewer meter has registered incorrectly or has stopped as a result of malfunctioning equipment, the charges and payments for sewer and water services shall be made on an estimate prepared by the Superintendent based upon the average of four (4) preceding readings of such meter, excluding excessive or obviously substantial deficient readings. Where such meter has been installed for less than one (1) year or where less than four (4) competent readings exist, such estimate may be based upon a lesser number of the four (4) preceding readings of such meter prior to such incorrect or stopped registration. Where such readings shall be found excessive or substantially deficient, the Superintendent is authorized to establish a billing which shall be due and payable when billed. The Superintendent may also include a reasonable charge for interest on unpaid sewer and water charges at a rate not to exceed one and five-tenths percent (1.5%) per month.
2. Estimated Charges; Interest On Unpaid Bills: In cases where it shall be found that a water or sewer meter has been tampered with or where any instrument, device or apparatus has been installed that causes diversion, interference, or inaccurate measurement of utility services, the charges and payments for sewer and water services shall be made on an estimate prepared by the Superintendent based upon the average of four (4) preceding readings of such meter, excluding excessive or obviously substantial deficient readings. Where such meter has been installed for less than one (1) year where less than four (4) competent readings exist, such estimate may be based upon a lesser number of the four (4) preceding readings of such meter prior to such tampering. Where such readings shall be found excessive or substantially deficient, the Superintendent is authorized to establish a billing which shall be due and payable when billed. The Superintendent may also include a reasonable charge for interest on unpaid sewer and water charges at a rate not to exceed five percent (5%) per month.
L. Adjustments: No Town employee is authorized to adjust bills for sewer and water service from that required by application of the appropriate charges to actual meter readings. The superintendent may, in writing, authorize adjustments to a user’s bill in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) in any year, if the Superintendent determines that the actual meter readings are excessive or that the appropriate charges were not correctly applied to actual meter readings. Any reductions greater than five hundred dollars ($500.00) in any year may only be approved by the town board.
M. Water Surcharge; Exclusive Service Violations: In cases where it shall be found that a user of the combined system is taking water service from another utility system or source in violation of subsection 5-1-5A of this title, a surcharge shall be imposed and charged to the user on all estimated quantities of water that such user receives or previously received from such other utility or source at the water user charge rate set forth in subsection B1 of this section.
N. Changes In Status Of Not For Profit Customers:
1. All not for profit organizations that desire to be charged for sewer and water service at the municipal rate provided in this section shall submit a written application and any supporting material required by the township to establish to the satisfaction of the township that: a) the buildings or properties occupied by the applicant are actually and exclusively used for charitable, religious or beneficent purposes, and b) that the applicant is a qualified organization under section 501(c) of the internal revenue code.
2. All buildings, properties and customers that are classified as not for profit organizations and uses and that are charged at the municipal rate shall be reclassified as commercial customers and charged at the commercial rate for water and sewer use at such time as: a) the customer loses its 501(c) status, b) the building or property is no longer used exclusively for charitable, religious or beneficent purposes, or c) the organization is unable to establish to the satisfaction of the township that it is entitled to be charged at the municipal rate for water and sewer use as provided under subsection A3 of this section.
3. Any organization that has applied and received the municipal rate for water and sewer use as a not for profit organization under this section shall notify the township supervisor in writing within five (5) business days of any change in its status under section 501(c) of the internal revenue code, of any change in its use or occupancy of a building or property that is receiving water charged at the municipal rate, or of any other circumstance or event that disqualifies the organization from receiving sewer and water service from the township at the municipal rate provided in subsection A3 of this section.
4. Failure of a water customer to give written notice to the township as required under subsection N3 of this section is a violation of this section which shall result in an enforcement surcharge of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) being added to the customer’s current account, in addition to any other fees or charges that may be due from the customer. An adjusted water bill shall be issued to the customer charging the customer the difference between the commercial rate and the municipal rate for customer’s water and sewer use for the period of time that the customer was not eligible to be charged at the municipal rate for water and sewer use, together with interest at the rate of one and one-half percent (1.5%) for each month, or part of a month, that the customer was disqualified from receiving sewer and water service at the municipal rate. (Ord. SWO-2012-3, 3-13-2012; amd. Ord. SWO-2012-4, 4-10-2012; Ord. SWO-2012-5, 12-4-2012; Ord. SWO-2014-1, 2-11-2014; Ord. SWO-2014-3, 3-11-2014; Ord. SWO-2014-7, 12-2-2014; Ord. SWO-2015-1, 1-13-2015; Ord. SWO-2015-4, 12-1-2015; Ord. SWO-2016-3, 9-13-2016; Ord. SWO-2017-2, 5-9-2017; Ord. SWO-2018-4, 5-8-2018; Ord. SWO-2019-3, 7-9-2019; Ord. SWO-2020-2, 7-7-2020; Ord. SWO-2022-1, 2-8-2022; Ord. SWO-2022-3, 6-14-2022; Ord. TO-2022-13, 9-13-2022)