If any account is not paid by the first day of the month following the date it became due and payable, the service to such owner or person so supplied with the utility shall be discontinued after the following procedures have been complied with.
(A) The City Clerk shall send a disconnect or discontinuance notice by regular mail to the address on file with the Clerk providing the following notice to customers: “You are advised that you may request a hearing on this matter to the City Clerk by noon on the day preceding the scheduled shut-off date or discontinuance of service.”
(B) There shall be a $15 fee charged for posting a 24-hour water service notice on a customer’s door for non-payment of utilities after a disconnect notice has been mailed to the customer.
(C) When a hearing is requested by a customer, the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee shall conduct a hearing within two business days following the request. The customer shall have the right to present evidence or propose a payment plan. The decision of the Mayor or Mayor’s designee is final.
(D) A lien shall not be certified to the County Treasurer for collection unless 30 days’ prior written notice by ordinary mail of the intent to certify a lien is given to the account holder of the delinquent account. If the account holder is a tenant, and if the owner or property lessor of the property has made a written request for notice, the notice shall also be given to the owner (per Iowa Code § 384.84(3)).
(E) If water service is discontinued for non-payment of fees and charges, or for the violation of any ordinance, the property owner shall pay a fee of $75 to the Clerk in addition to the rates or charges then due before such service is restored. No service shall be restored after regular business hours.
(D) If the property in which there are delinquent utilities owing is sold before the city certifies the lien to the County Treasurer, the city may certify the delinquent utilities against another property located in this state owned by the delinquent user (per Iowa Code § 384.84(3)(a)(3)).
(Prior Code, § 6-5-5) (Ord. 02-05, passed 6-11-2002; Ord. 2017-03, passed 5-23-2017; Ord. 2020-01, passed 1-28-2020)