(a) Charges for water used will be based on the meter consumption at the rates legally adopted by the City.
(b) The reading of meters will be monthly. In cases where no meter reading is obtained or in the case of an inoperative meter or by three unsuccessful attempts to read the meter, the City reserves the right to estimate and bill for the water consumed on the basis of preceding comparable monthly consumption.
(c) Bills for metered water will be rendered on the first day of the month following that in which the reading is taken.
(Ord. 09-04. Passed 3-23-09.)
(d) Payment of Water Bills shall be made on the first day of each month. Water Bills that are not paid by 8 a.m. on the 16th day of the month become past due. Water Bills that are not paid by 11:00 p.m. on the 15th when making an online payment, will become past due. A late fee assessment of 10% of the current bill due will be added to a past due bill. Prior month Water Bills that are not paid by 3:00 p.m. on the 15th day of the current month become delinquent. Delinquent balance of a past due account not paid by the 15th of the current month shall be subject to shut off without further notice. If service is terminated due to non-payment there will be a $50.00 disconnect fee. There will be a $75.00 disconnect fee of accounts outside of City limits. If any of the aforementioned dates occur on a weekend or holiday, the payment is due by 8 a.m. the next business day. When service is terminated for non-payment and if no payment is made before the next billing cycle, the account will be finalized.
(Ord. 18-10. Passed 3-19-18.)
(e) All charges for water are assessed against the property to which the service is rendered, and are a lien against such property, collectible in the same manner as other taxes and assessments; it shall be the duty of persons purchasing property to ascertain if there are any unpaid water bills outstanding against the property.
(Ord. 09-04. Passed 3-23-09.)
(f) The owner of any premises shall pay the water charges as they accrue. An owner may permit a tenant or lessee to be co-named or added to the account but is not thereby relieved of responsibility for payment and cannot themselves be removed from the account. Before new tenant or lessee can receive water service, owner shall see that all bills are current, and that account is not delinquent. If account is delinquent service shall be terminated until paid in full.
(Ord. 17-13. Passed 9-18-17.)
(g) The Water Department will undertake to deliver bills for water by depositing the same in the Post Office as a matter of convenience to the owner or consumer. Failure to receive bills shall not relieve any persons from their obligations in the payment of such bills.
(h) When water is turned off on account of any delinquency, it will not be turned on until all delinquencies have been paid, together with an "off and on" charge of fifty dollars ($50.00) for service in the City or seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for service without the City.
(i) When a consumer has been notified of a leak and repair is not made within seven (7) calendar days of notice, service may be shut off without notice.
(Ord. 09-04. Passed 3-23-09.)
(j) When a payment is made by check to the Water-Sewer Department and the check is returned by the bank for any reason, a thirty-five ($35.00) fee is assessed to the customer's account. No returned check will be redeposited to the bank for any reason. When a payment is made by credit or debit card to the Water-Sewer Department and the payment is returned from the bank for any reason, a twenty-five ($25.00) fee is assessed to the customer's account. No returned credit or debit card payment will be redeposited to the bank for any reason. When a payment is made by ACH to the Water-Sewer Department and is returned from the bank for any reason, a twenty ($20.00) fee is assessed to the customer's account. No ACH payment will be redeposited to the bank for any reason.
(Ord. 18-10. Passed 3-19-18.)
(k) A service fee will be assessed to the consumer’s account for service calls. The fee for each service call is $15.00 during normal hours and $50.00 for after hour service calls. Service calls will include but not limited to shutoff requests, rereading of water meters and leak detection assistance.
(Ord. 09-04. Passed 3-23-09.)
(l) The Water-Sewer Department is authorized to establish payment plans following the table below. All other payment options will be granted only as authorized by New Lexington Village Council.
Amount over Average Usage:
$50.00 - $500.00 - 12 Months Maximum
$500.01-2,500.00 - 24 Months Maximum
More than $2,500.00 - 36 Months Maximum
Minimum payment no less than $25.00
(m) One pool credit per calendar year will be granted per service address. Pool Credits will be calculated by the Water Clerk for sewer charges above the average for the past six billing cycles.
(Ord. 18-10. Passed 3-19-18.)