(A) Accounts in name of owner.
(1) All accounts shall be carried in the name of the owner.
(2) The owner shall be liable for water supplied to the property, whether the owner is occupying the property or not, and any charges unpaid shall be a lien upon the property.
(B) Bills for service.
(1) Water and sewer service charges shall be billed together.
(2) Bills shall be mailed to the customers quarterly and shall specify the water consumed and the sewer and water charges in accordance with the rates adopted by the City Council.
(3) Water and sewer charges shall start at the time of installation of the water meter, or in the event the meter is not installed, 7 days after completion of outside piping, and shall be calculated upon the quarterly rate.
(C) Dishonored checks and payment.
(1) Service charge and additional penalties. A service charge, not to exceed $30, will be imposed immediately on any dishonored check by the payee of the holder of the check, regardless of mailing a notice of dishonor. Dishonored check holders will be notified by regular United States Postal Service mail of the dishonored check. If the dishonored check is not paid within 5 days after mailing of notice of dishonor, additional penalties may be imposed. This can be as much as the amount of the check plus a service charge and the bank charge. If a dishonored check is issued to bring an account current following a notice of disconnection of service, water service shall be disconnected immediately, without prior notice. The service charge and reconnection charge, plus the balance on the account, shall be required to be paid in full, by cashier's check, money order or cash payment, prior to reconnecting service. If a resident issues a dishonored check, all future utility bills must be paid in cash or by cashier's check or money order. If a customer who has issued a dishonored check in the past wishes to set up a new account, a $100 deposit is required. This deposit will be reimbursed to customer after 1 year with interested (with interest rate on day of payment), if account has remained current for the entire year.
(2) Prepayment or overpayment. Any prepayment or overpayment of charges may be retained by the city and applied on subsequent quarterly charges.
(D) Delinquent accounts.
(1) All charges for water and sewer service shall be due on the quarterly due date specified by the city for the respective account and shall be delinquent if they are unpaid at the close of business on the due date specified on the statement.
(2) If such due date shall fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the time shall be extended to the close of business on the next succeeding day on which business is normally transacted.
(3) A penalty of 10% of the amount due shall be added to, and become a part of, all delinquent utility bills. The water operator shall be authorized to shut off the consumer's supply of water, if the consumer's water bill becomes delinquent for a period of 30 days and the procedural requirements of division (E) have been complied with.
(4) When water service to any premises has been discontinued, service shall not be restored except upon the payment of all delinquent bills and a turn on fee in the amount duly established by the City Council from time to time.
(5) Delinquent accounts shall be certified to the City Administrator who shall prepare an assessment roll each year providing for assessment of the delinquent amounts against the respective properties served.
(6) The assessment roll shall be delivered to the City Council for adoption on or before October 1 of each year for certification to the County Auditor for collection along with taxes.
(7) Such action is optional and may be subsequent to taking legal action to collect delinquent accounts.
(E) Procedures for shutoff of service.
(1) Water shall not be shut off under division (D) or for a violation of rules and regulations affecting utility service until notice and opportunity for a hearing have first been given the owner of the premises involved.
(2) The notice shall be personally served or shall be mailed by first class mail to the owner of the premises and shall state that if payment is not made before a day stated in the notice but not less than 10 days after the date of which the notice is given, the water supply to the premises will be shut off.
(3) The notice shall also state that the owner may, before such date, demand a hearing on the matter, in which case the supply will not be cut off until after the hearing is held.
(4) If the owner requests a hearing before the date specified, a hearing shall be held on the matter by the Administrator at least 1 week after the date on which the request is made.
(5) If, as a result of the hearing, the Administrator finds that the amount claimed to be owing is actually due and unpaid and that there is no legal reason why the water supply of the delinquent customer may not be shut off in accordance with this chapter, the city may shut off the supply.
(Ord. passed 8-1-2006; Am. Ord. passed 6-24-2011; Am. Ord. passed 11-5-2013)