(a) No applicant shall be provided utility services if the applicant has an outstanding, unpaid account, debt, fine or costs with the City.
(b) Except as modified in subsection (d) of this section, the following sums shall be deposited in the City utility office before any meter is hooked up or before any service is provided:
(1) Gas service. A deposit of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) plus a connection fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be made with each application for gas service.
(2) Water service. A deposit of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) plus a connection fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be made with each application for water service. When the owner of the premises is to be served, no such deposit shall be required.
(c) The deposit for each account made by the depositor shall be refunded upon discontinuance of service, provided the account and all bills and other indebtedness to the City are paid in full and provided that the depositor shall notify the City immediately upon discontinuance of service. Otherwise, the sum shall be retained by the City and the City may automatically apply the sum to any account, bill or other indebtedness owed by the depositor to the City without the depositor signing over the deposit.
(d) The deposit required by subsection (b) of this section shall be triple the deposit required of a non-owner of the property, regardless of whether the depositor is an owner or not, for any depositor that has within the ten years last past prior to the making of the deposit failed to pay timely a final bill for prior utility services. If the depositor is an owner of the property, the deposit shall only be refunded pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
(Ord. 2016-01-1. Passed 1-13-16; Ord. 2023-3-1. Passed 3-22-23.)