(a) Accounts for sewer service shall be only in the name of the owner of the real estate. As a condition of receiving sewer service from the City, any owner of real estate agrees to be governed by the provisions of this Code and ordinances of the City of Lima, and all rates, rules and regulations established by the Mayor and Department of Utilities, and the owner shall be liable for all sewer, service, or other charges for such accounts.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) hereof, the Mayor is authorized to develop and implement rules and regulations relating to the establishment of sewer accounts in the name of a tenant occupying any real estate, provided however that the owner of such real estate shall remain ultimately liable for payment of the account as set forth subsection (a) hereof if the tenant fails to pay the same.
(c) All charges for connection, permits, etc. shall be payable upon application.
(d) Charges shall be billed monthly or quarterly, and payment shall be made in accordance with regulations established by the Mayor. At the option of the Mayor, such charges shall be payable at the same time as water bills.
(e) Payments shall be made at the office of the City Treasurer or such other places as he may designate.
(f) If the bill for services remains unpaid, the water connection to the property shall be shut off at such premises as soon as practical and in accordance with the regulations established by the Mayor for water service.
(g) A penalty of ten dollars ($10.00) or ten percent of the bill, whichever is greater, shall be added to each charge if it is not paid promptly at the time established by the Mayor. The Director of Utilities shall have the authority to waive the late fee for first-time occurrences of late payment, per account, and to also waive second-time occurrences of late payment if the account payor establishes an automatic payment option suitable to the Director.
(h) Each charge levied by or pursuant to this chapter is hereby made a lien upon the corresponding real estate served by a connection to the wastewater system of the City, and if the same is not paid within thirty days after the due date, it may be certified as delinquent by the Director of Utilities to the County Auditor, who shall place the same on the tax duplicates of the county, with interest and penalties allowed by law, and it shall be collected as other taxes and assessments on the property are collected.
(Ord. 175-91. Passed 7-8-91; Ord. 250-10. Passed 11-22-10, Effective 3-1-11; Ord. 301-14. Passed 12-22-14; Ord. 246-21. Passed 10-25-21.)