(A) The owner (hereinafter referred to as "applicant") of any single-family, residential property who is then current in the payment of all outstanding electric, water, sewer, and garbage charges for a particular single-family, residential dwelling may, upon written application to the City Clerk's office, cause their utility account for that premise to be placed on vacant property status while the property is unoccupied. While the premise is on vacant property status, the applicant shall pay a $40 per month utility maintenance fee, plus the actual electric charge for electric energy utilized, but not less than the monthly minimum charge provided in § 50.25. An account placed on vacant property status shall remain on vacant property status only so long as the premises are unoccupied and the monthly kilowatt electric usage remains below 200 Kwh. No accounts shall remain on vacant property status longer than six months. The City Clerk shall have discretion to extend the period of vacant status for properties listed for sale; which are in estates; or which are being managed for a disabled family member.
(B) In addition to the requirements set forth in division (A) of this section, in order to be eligible for vacant property status, the applicant for the premises to which the account is attached shall have no outstanding utility bills, ordinance violation fines, traffic or misdemeanor violation fines, abatement charges, civil penalties, past due property taxes, or other indebtedness owing to the city on account of any property owned by such applicant within the city. The property must be unoccupied in order to originally qualify or to remain on vacant property status.
(C) The city shall terminate the vacant property status or designation during any month the Clerk determines the property to be occupied or during any month in which the electric consumption exceeds 200 Kwh. The Clerk may retroactively impose full utility charges for any month or period of months that the Clerk determines the premises have been occupied without prior notice to the City Clerk's Office.
(D) In the event an applicant shall fail to inform the city within 72 hours of when a premise becomes occupied, the city may disconnect all utility service to the premises and such utility services shall not be restored until the applicant shall pay a civil penalty of $100 to the city in addition to those retroactive charges imposed under division (C) of this section.
(E) It shall be a violation of this section for any person, firm, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, or the entity to make any misrepresentation, false or misleading statement, or to omit any required or requested information in order to obtain or continue vacant property status for any property within the city.
(F) Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, or other entity who is found to have violated this section shall be fined not less than $200 plus costs nor more than $750 plus costs. In addition, any person, firm, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, or other entity found to have violated this section shall thereafter be permanently ineligible to have any property placed on vacant property status.
(Ord. 2015-20, passed 10-13-2015)