§ 51.17 COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT WATER BILLS.
   The Water Utility shall discontinue water service to any user who has failed to pay his or her water utility bill for a period of 60 days or more and who has received a notice of delinquency as more particularly described herein.
   (B)   A notice of delinquency shall be mailed or delivered personally to any water user who has failed for a period of 60 days to pay any water bill charged and mailed to that user. The notice shall state:
      (1)   The full amount owed to the utility on the date of the notice including any collection or deferred payment charge;
      (2)   The date on which service will be discontinued if delinquent bills are not paid;
      (3)   The cost to the user for disconnecting or reinstating water service; and
      (4)   Any other information the Water Utility Board may deem appropriate.
   (C)   Water service may be continued for users who have received the notices described in division (B) of this section and who within ten days after receipt of the notice make a satisfactory showing of financial hardship along with satisfactory arrangements for payment of their current water utility bill and reduction of their delinquent bills. No arrangement for payment of delinquent bills while receiving continued water service shall be permitted unless the arrangement includes the requirement that the delinquent user pay each future water bill as it becomes due and with each bill, not less than 10% of the total amount, including penalty, due at the time of the notice.
   (D)   The Water Utility Board hereby authorizes the Superintendent to determine on its behalf whether a financial hardship exists with respect to users whose bills are delinquent and whether an arrangement should be made for reduction of the delinquent bills. A user dissatisfied with the decision of the Superintendent may request an adjustment of that decision by the Utility Board.
   (E)   Once an account of the water works is turned over to the collection agency, any payment made on that account must be paid to the collection agency. If available, self-addressed envelopes to the collection agency shall be available at the Water Department Office for customers who desire to make payment. The customer is responsible for mailing the payment.
(Res. 77-9, passed 3-28-77; Am. Res. 92-06, passed 4-13-92)