The City, providing both police and fire services and protection to its residents and owners of property, pursuant to authorization set forth in West Virginia Code 8-13-13, hereby imposes an annual public safety fee against the owner, owners, renter, renters, occupant and occupants of all buildings of every kind and nature, regardless of the type of construction, within the City, and against the owner or owners of motor vehicles within the City, as follows:
(a) An annual fee shall be charged to the owner of all buildings of every kind and nature, regardless of the type of construction of seven cents (7 ¢) for each square foot of any such building. All such square footage measurements shall be made by the measurement of the exterior of such structure, excluding porches, garages, and attics. Square footage on structures containing more than one story shall be established by multiplying the number of stories times the square footage of ground or main floor.
(b) A fee of twelve dollars ($12.00) shall be charged to an occupant or renter of any such structure.
(c) The amount of the annual Public Safety fee shall be assessed as of July l for the ensuing fiscal year, payable to the Treasurer of the City in monthly installments of one-twelfth (1/12) thereof each month of said fiscal year. A one percent (1%) penalty on the monthly the fee shall be added for any default in payment beyond the end of any month, with a like penalty of one percent (1 %) to be added for each thirty days thereafter elapsing before payment is made. The fee provided by this section shall be a debt due the City. The City may collect any such fee and all accrued penalties by action against the owner or occupier of such property against whom the service charge has been assessed by action before the Municipal Court of the City of Moundsville, the Magistrate Court of Marshall County, the Circuit Court of Marshall County or any other court of competent jurisdiction.
(Passed 10-20-20.)