(A) Connection fee and permit; new connections only.
(1) No connection with city water mains shall be made until the connection fee (hookup fee) has been paid and a permit issued. The connection fee shall include the water meter, complete with yoke and lid, and all necessary piping from the main line to the connected property line; provided, that said culinary water connection is within 400 feet of a main water line.
(2) The connection fee shall be according to the size of the pipe. For connections of larger size pipe and meters, the connection fee shall be at the discretion of the City Council, but no less than the amount charged for a one inch connection, plus the added cost for material over a one inch connection. All meters and meter boxes to remain the property of the city.
(B) Billing. Bills for water used shall be dated and sent out by the fifteenth of each month. In the event that meters are read only every other month, the in between meter readings billing shall be the minimum rate, the actual difference to be made up on the next billing.
(C) Nonpayment. The water supply may be cut off from any premises for which the water bill remains unpaid for a period of 30 days after the bill is rendered and mailed. When the water is shut off, water shall not be turned on except upon the payment of a turn-on charge, in such amount as established by resolution of the City Council, and payment of delinquent bill.
(D) Lien. Whenever a bill for water service remains unpaid 60 days after it has been rendered, the City Recorder may file with the County Recorder the proper legal papers for a statement of lien claim. This statement shall contain the legal description of the premises served, the amount of the unpaid bill, and a notice that the city claims a lien for this amount, as well as for all charges for water served subsequent to the period covered by the bill and legal fees connected to the lien.
(E) Foreclosure of lien. Property subject to a lien for unpaid water charges shall be sold for nonpayment of the same, and the proceeds of such sale shall be applied to pay the charges, after deducting costs, as is in the case of the foreclosure of statutory liens.
(F) Board of Equalization. The City Council is hereby declared a Board of Equalization of water and sewer rates and fees, to hear complaints and make corrections of any assessment deemed to be illegal, unjust or unequal. It may, if it sees fit, rebate all or any part of the water and sewer bill of any indigent person.
(G) Disconnection for late payment.
(1) It is the policy of the city to discontinue utility service to customers by reason of nonpayment of bills only after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard on disputed bills. The city’s form for application for utility service and all bills shall contain, in addition to the title, address, room number and telephone number of the official in charge of billing, clearly visible and easily readable provisions to the effect:
(a) All bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on the bill;
(b) If any bill is not paid by or before that date, a second bill will be mailed containing a cutoff notice that if the bill is not paid within ten days of the mailing of the second bill, service will be discontinued for nonpayment; and
(c) 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 official in charge of utility billing. 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.
(2) (a) Requests for delays or waiver of payment will not be entertained; only questions of proper and correct billing will be considered.
(b) 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.
(3) 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 turn-on charge in the sum of $20.
(Prior Code, § 8-1-6)