(a) The owner of the premises served and the occupant and/or user of the water service shall be jointly and severally liable for the water service provided said premises. Water rent shall be a lien on the property supplied, and if not paid as herein provided, the same shall be collected as other taxes and assessments are collected, and the Fiscal Officer is hereby directed to certify to the Auditor of Huron County such delinquent water rents with a description of the premises, and the Auditor shall place the same on the duplicate and collect according to law and certify to the Solicitor such delinquent water rents for collection in a Court of Law in the name of the Village. A deposit shall be required from all tenants. Such deposit may be applied to any final water rent bill, and any balance shall be returned to the applicant. Any person who rents a property and leaves without paying the final bill with a balance due of more than the deposit will not be able to have water turned on in their name until the balance is paid. The provisions of this paragraph (a) shall govern any accounts established in the name of a tenant prior to the effective date of paragraph (b), below. Once an existing tenant account has been closed, no renewal, substitute, or replacement account in the name of a tenant shall be opened.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, effective from and after August 28, 2017, water accounts will be opened only in the name of the owner of property; and the owner of the premises served shall be liable for the water service provided said premises. Water rent shall be a lien on the property supplied, and if not paid as herein provided, the same shall be collected as other taxes and assessments are collected, and the Fiscal Officer is hereby directed to certify to the Auditor of Huron County such delinquent water rents with a description of the premises, and the Auditor shall place the same on the duplicate and collect according to law and certify to the Solicitor such delinquent water rents for collection in a Court of Law in the name of the Village. A deposit shall be required to open all new accounts. Such deposit may be applied to any final water rent bill, and any balance shall be returned to the applicant. Any person who terminates service without paying the final bill with a balance due of more than the deposit will not be able to have water turned on in their name until the balance is paid.
(Ord. 2017-12. Passed 8-28-17.)