(A) The following rates, charges and fees to be charged for providing sewer services to customers of the municipally operated sewer public utility of the town be and hereby are adopted to become effective for all service rendered on and after 45 days from the date of adoption of this section.
(1) Applicability. Applicable within entire territory served.
(2) Availability. Available for general domestic, commercial, industrial and public authority service.
(3) Metered rates (based on water usage).
First | 4,000 gallons per month | $10.82 per 1,000 gallons |
All over | 4,000 gallons per month | $10.82 per 1,000 gallons |
(4) Minimum charge – two months (based on 4,000 gallons). No bill will be rendered for less than the following amounts: $43.28 per two months.
(5) Unmetered charge (based on 4,500 gallons per month). No bill will be rendered for less than the following amounts: $97.38 per two months.
(6) Connection charge. A fee of $350 will be charged for each new connection to the system.
(7) Delayed payment penalty. The above tariff is net. On all current usage billings not paid within 20 days, 10% will be added to the net amount unpaid. This delayed penalty is not interest and is only to be collected once for each bill where it is appropriate.
(8) Disconnect for non-payment. If any bill is not paid within 60 days from the date of the bill, water service to the customer will be disconnected and will not be restored until all past due bills have been paid in full together with all penalty charges, subject to applicable rules of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.
(9) Leak adjustment increment. $4.71 per 1,000 gallons. To be used when the bill reflects unusual consumption which can be attributed to eligible leakage on the customer’s side of the meter. This rate shall be applied to all such unusual consumption above the customer’s historical average usage.
(10) Security deposit. Not to exceed one-twelfth of the annual estimated charge for residential service, or one-sixth of the annual estimated charge for commercial service. This fee may be changed by applicable statutory provisions.
(11) Returned check charge. A service charge equal to the actual bank fee assessed to the town or a maximum of $25 will be imposed upon any customer whose check for payment of charges is returned by their bank due to insufficient funds.
(12) Payment collection fee. In the event that an employee of the town collects a payment from the customer at the customer’s residence to avoid termination of water service, the customer shall be charged a fee of $20, in addition to the amount of any unpaid bill.
(13) EFT payments. A service charge will be imposed on EFT payments. Payments shall consist of the actual charges from the financial institution for processing payment.
(14) Bill reprint fee. A charge of $1 will be assessed to customers who do not present the bar coded section of the bill provided by the town with payment.
(B) In accordance with the provisions of W. Va. Code § 24-2-4b, as amended, the rules and regulations and the rates, charges and fees provided for herein shall be effective no sooner than 45 days from the date of adoption.
(C) In accordance with the requirements of W. Va. Code § 8-11-4, 1931, as amended, the town shall cause the proposed rate changes to be read by title (or in full, if so demanded by a member of the governing body) at not less than two meetings of the governing body with at least one week intervening between each meeting. The town shall cause notice of the proposed adoption of this section to be published as a Class I-O legal advertisement, with the publication being made at least five days before the meeting at which this section is to be finally adopted, and with said notice meeting the other requirements set forth in W. Va. Code §§ 59-3-1 et seq.
(D) In accordance with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia’s Rules for the Construction and Filing of Tariffs, 150 CSR 2, notice of this section shall be provided by:
(1) Causing to be published the Commission’s Tariff Form No. 12 as a Class II legal advertisement, in a qualified newspaper of general circulation in the area of the town, with the first publication occurring within five days, or, if the notice is to be published in a newspaper that issues on a weekly basis, by the first possible publication date, after the adoption of this section;
(2) Posting a notice that conforms with Tariff Form No. 12 in a conspicuous place at the town’s business premises beginning the day after the Town Council meeting at which this section is adopted and continuing for 30 days; and
(3) Filing with the Commission, within five days after the adoption of this section, a copy of this section along with other information as required by § 23.1.7 of the Tariff Rules.
(Ord. passed 2-1-1982; Ord. passed 4-6-1987; Ord. passed 8-4-1990; Ord. passed 9-17-1996; Ord. passed 6-1-2004; Ord. passed 6-24-2002; Ord. passed 1-4-2021)