(A) It is the policy of the city to discontinue utility service to customers by reason of nonpayment of bills only after written notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard on disputed bills. The city’s application for utility service and all bills shall contain, in addition to the address and telephone number of the utility billing office, clearly visible and easily readable provisions to the effect:
(1) That all bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on the bill;
(2) That if any bill is not paid by or before that date, a second bill will be mailed containing a cut-off notice stating that if the bill is not paid within 10 days of the mailing of the second bill, service will be discontinued for nonpayment; and
(3) That any customer disputing the correctness of his or her bill shall have a right to a hearing at which time he or she may be represented in person and by counsel or any other person of his or her choosing and may present orally or in writing his or her complaint and contentions to the City Administrator. Any dispute must be made at least 48 hours prior to the disconnection date. If necessary, this official shall be authorized to order that the customer’s service not be discontinued and shall have the authority to make a final determination of the customer’s complaint. The customer will be notified as to the determination via a door hanger placed on the front door prior to the disconnection date or where necessary, will be given a new disconnection date of 10:00 a.m. on the date after the hanger is placed on the front door.
(B) Upon written request, at the discretion of the city official in charge of utility billing, an additional 10 days can be allowed for payment of all delinquent charges and penalties. In the absence of payment of the bill rendered or resort to the hearing procedure provided herein, service will be discontinued at the time specified, but in no event until the charges have been due and unpaid for at least 30 days.
(C) When it becomes necessary for the city to discontinue utility service to a customer for nonpayment of bills, service will be reinstated only after all bills for service then due have been paid, along with a shut off charge in the sum of $50.
(D) The charges or rates as fixed by this section are liens upon the real estate to or for which the water is supplied, and whenever the charges become delinquent, as provided herein, they may be collected either by foreclosure of the lien or by suit against the owner and/or user of the real estate, in accordance with the statutes of the State of Illinois. Notice of delinquencies shall be given to each owner prior to the filing of any such lien.
(Am. Ord. 2008-59, passed 10-14-2008; Am. Ord. 2023-07, passed 1-23-2023)