(a) Administration.
(1) The Administrator shall make rules regulating the conditions under which water service shall be rendered.
(2) Any rules and regulations issued by the Administrator are made effective on all consumers of water from the system of the Division of Water, both within and without the Municipal limits.
(3) The Administrator is authorized within his discretion and in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated herein to order the discontinuance of water service to any person, home, commercial, or industrial using water in violation of any rules, ordinances, and regulations.
(4) Where the Administrator has ordered a discontinuance of water service for a violation of any rule, ordinances, or regulation, there shall be charged the fees provided for in Section 939.02(g).
(b) The Administration shall establish and implement minimum monthly base service charges based on meter size. A copy of the minimum monthly base service charges shall be kept on file in the Obetz Water and Sewer Department. All customers shall receive notification of an increase by means of publication on the monthly bill at least one billing cycle prior to the proposed increase
(c) The Administration shall establish and implement a rate classification for service per 1000 gallons used. The charge for water and sewer is in addition to the minimum monthly base service charges established in subsection (b) above. A copy of the rate classification charges shall be kept on file in the Obetz Water and Sewer Department. All customers shall receive notification of an increase by means of publication on the monthly bill at least one billing cycle prior to the proposed increase.
(d) The Administrator is hereby authorized and directed to adjust the water and sewer rates (both base rates and commodity rates for each) to keep pace with the City of Columbus' charges for water and sewer services, as well as costs associated with administering, maintaining, and improving the Village's water and sewer systems and nothing more in accordance with the formula set forth by Council herein.
(e) Owner's Liability for Charges; Penalties.
(1) Each water charge charged under or pursuant to this chapter is made a lien upon the corresponding lot, parcel of land, building or premises surveyed by a connection to the water system of the Municipality. The lien shall vest when such charge becomes due and, if the charge is not paid within ninety days after it becomes due, it shall be certified to the Auditor of Franklin County and the Auditor shall place the same on the tax duplicate of the County with any interest and penalties allowed by law. Such lien shall be collected as any other tax.
(2) The owners of real estate premises installing or maintaining water service shall be liable for all water charges incurred for services at such premises.
(3) Tenants of the owners of real estate premises serviced with water may contract with the Municipality for such water service but the contract shall in no way be construed as to relieve the owner of the real estate premises of liability for the water service charges. Tenants will not be able to establish service or have service transferred to them if there are outstanding charges at the service address.
(4) After certifying to the County Auditor that water charges are unpaid and a lien as provided herein, the Village of Obetz is authorized and directed to shut off the water service to those real estate premises until such unpaid water charges have been paid.
(5) The owner of real estate premises, by installing or maintaining water service from the Municipality is deemed to assent to all rules and regulations of the Division of Water, and ordinances of the Municipality pertaining to water service and distribution.
(f) Collection and Disbursement of Funds. All moneys payable to the Administrator or Water Superintendent shall be collected by the Water Department or Administrator at their usual place of business. All such moneys shall be deposited with the Finance Director within forty-eight hours. All such charges noted in this chapter shall be placed in separate funds for the maintenance, repair and operation, debt service, and capital needs of each system as determined by the Finance Director.
(g) Water Master Meter Connection. For the purpose of expediting the installation of a new master meter connection to the City of Columbus system, the Developer has agreed to pay the cost of the "capacity fees", meter fees, water tap, meter pit and installation necessary to provide for a new master meter connection. The developer shall certify the total cost of the installation. The certified cost shall be reviewed and approved by the Village Engineer. In return for this prepayment the Developer will be given credit against future water connection fees due to the Village, at the Village's current rate at the time of the connection, until the entire prepayment has been paid off. The Developer shall determine when a new tap is to be used as a credit against their prepayment cost. In no case shall the Developer receive more credit than his total initial cost. This agreement shall continue for a period of 10 years after which the Developer will have no claim for reimbursement.
(Ord. 15-13. Passed 3-11-13.)