(A) Each applicant for a new service shall pay a connection charge for tapping or connecting to the City water main in the amount of $500.00 per tap-on or connection (as set forth within § 154.04 of the City Plumbing Code, which sum includes the applicable inspection fee described below. In addition, commercial, multi-family, and industrial applicants and residential applicants shall pay a charge for the water meter of the necessary size for water service from the City of Mt. Vernon equal to the purchase price of the City for said meter. The applicant shall have the meter installed at the expense of the applicant by a licensed plumber bonded with the City, which installation shall be subject to inspection by an authorized representative of the City prior to the City’s furnishing water. There shall be a $25.00 inspection fee for single-residential connections and a $50.00 inspection fee for multi-family connections, commercial connections and industrial connections. Relocation of an existing service shall not constitute a new service, and no tap-on or connection fee shall be payable; although the meter fee (if a new meter is installed) and the inspection fee shall be payable. No existing service tap located on a vacant lot or located on any property not having water service on or after May 1, 2018 shall be used; the owner of said property shall be required to install a new service tap, although the tap fee shall be waived and the new tap shall be treated as a tap relocation.
(B) Each applicant for a new water service which taps or connects to a water main extension constructed hereunder shall also pay an extension connection charge for tapping or connecting to the water main. The extension connection charge shall be computed by multiplying the charge per lineal foot times the lineal front feet of the applicant’s real estate upon the extension. The charge per lineal foot shall be determined by dividing the total cost of construction for the extension by the total lineal footage of the extension (or by twice the lineal footage, if the extension may serve property on either side).
(C) The City may extend water mains adjacent to previously unserved property and may collect the above extension connection charge from the owner of the previously unserved property upon said owner’s requesting water service for the property. The City of Mt. Vernon may also enter into a written agreement with landowners (for the extension by the landowners) of water mains adjacent to previously unserved land owned by a third party in order to serve the landowner’s property; said agreements may provide that the City will collect the extension connection charge upon the third party’s requesting water service for his property fronting on the extension constructed by the landowner and provided that the City will pay the charge collected to the landowner, provided, however, that no agreement shall be executed unless the landowner provides a verified and itemized statement of the construction costs, a plat or description of the extension constructed by the landowner, and an accurate record of the ownership of each property adjacent to the extension.
(D) Before any new connection is made, the customer shall deposit with the City a sum equal to the connection charge, inspection fees, the extension connection charge described above if any, and any meter deposit which may now or hereafter be required by appropriate Ordinance of the City. After depositing such sum, service may then be installed.
(E) The connection charges and extension connection charges above set forth are only for the privilege of making connections to new water mains or to tapping onto existing mains and do not include any costs of excavation and installation of buildings, main services, or other costs of bringing water from the connection or tap to the structure served.
(F) (1) Immediately upon connection or tapping, the liability of the applicant for water charges shall commence, whether the applicant shall then be receiving water or not.
(2) An applicant shall not be excused from payment of monthly water charges but shall be charged at least the minimum amount even though he shall choose not to receive water immediately.
(G) In the event that the City installs a water main in a previously unserved area within the corporate limits of the City of Mt. Vernon, each property adjacent to the main shall, within 90 days, connect to the City water system; said connection shall be at the owner’s expense and shall be subject to all new connection permits, rules and fees.
(Prior Code, Art. 16, § 16.3(h))