§ 51.02 WATER RATES AND CHARGES.

   (A)   Rates and charges.

      (1)   Metered consumption per month. There are hereby established for the use of and the service rendered by the waterworks system of the town the following rates and charges, based on the use of water supplied by said waterworks system:

	Monthly Rate Per 1,000 Gallons
Metered Consumption Per Month	Phase I Effective 1-1-2022	Phase II Effective 1-1-2023	Phase III Effective 1-1-2024
First 3,333 gallons	$9.31	$9.50	$9.69
Next 6,667 gallons	$7.72	$7.87	$8.03
Next 6,667 gallons	$6.01	$6.13	$6.25
Next 20,000 gallons	$4.42	$4.51	$4.60
Next 233,333 gallons	$3.31	$3.38	$3.45
Over 270,000 gallons	$2.74	$2.79	$2.85

 

      (2)   Minimum charge per month. Each user shall pay a minimum monthly charge in accordance with the following applicable size of meter installed, which charge shall be applicable if the monthly charge for use is less than this minimum charge, and which minimum monthly charge takes into consideration the minimum overhead expense of the town that exists with respect to each user in maintaining and providing billing, the cost of maintaining a system to have available the quantity of water that can be used through such a line, including but not limited to the cost of maintaining lines within the town, and the cost of billing, collecting and accounting for payments made by the user, which minimum monthly charges are as follows:

	Minimum Charge Per Month
Meter Size	Phase I Effective 1-1-2022	Phase II Effective 1-1-2023	Phase III Effective 1-1-2024
5/8-inch by 3/4-inch	$22.11	$22.56	$23.01
1-inch	$36.91	$37.65	$38.41
1-1/4-inch	$55.29	$56.39	$57.53
1-1/2-inch	$73.66	$75.12	$76.64
2-inch	$110.38	$112.57	$114.83
3-inch	$220.64	$225.08	$229.59
4-inch	$331.12	$337.90	$344.74
6-inch	$503.40	$513.82	$524.31

 

      (3)   Fire protection charges.

	Rate Per Annum
Fire Protection Charges	Phase I Effective 1-1-2022	Phase II Effective 1-1-2023	Phase III Effective 1-1-2024
Hydrant rental:
Municipal hydrants, per hydrant	$846.65	$863.60	$880.85
Private hydrants, per hydrant	$1,059.65	$1,080.85	$1,102.45
Sprinkler connections:
4-inch fire line	$508	$518.15	$528.50
6-inch fire line	$1,146.75	$1,169.70	$1,193.10
8-inch fire line	$2,040.10	$2,080.90	$2,122.50
10-inch fire line	$3,186.55	$3,250.30	$3,315.30

 

      (4)   Tap charge. A tap charge shall be collected from each customer prior to connection to the water system. The charge shall be an amount sufficient to reimburse the town for the labor, material and overhead necessary for tapping a main to the property line (including the curb stop) and the cost of furnishing and installing a suitable water meter, provided, however, that in no event shall a charge for such connection be less than $1,500, unless all materials and installation are obtained and made by the customer, with the consent of the waterworks, in which event the tap charge shall be $500 plus the cost of the meter. All water meters become and remain the property of the waterworks once installed, whether purchased by the customer or the town.

      (5)   Temporary users. Water furnished to temporary users, such as contractors and the like, shall be charged on the basis of the metered rates hereinbefore set forth as estimated and established by the Waterworks Superintendent.

      (6)   Collection and deferred payment charge. All bills for water services not paid within 15 days from the due date thereof, as slated in such bills, shall be subject to the collection or deferred payment charge of 10% of the first $3 and 3% on the excess over $3. In the event of legal action to collect an unpaid water bill, the user shall pay the reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the town.

      (7)   Deposit.

         (a)   Any person or entity applying for water service, prior to such service being furnished, shall pay to the waterworks system a deposit, which deposit shall be held by the waterworks without interest obligation to the user, and which deposit, upon termination of water service to the user, shall be applied to any amount owed to the waterworks for rates and charges, and the balance then remaining after such application shall be returned to the user, and which deposit shall be in the following amount: Three times minimum monthly charge rounded up to the nearest whole dollar.

         (b)   When a user has for a continuous period of five years paid each monthly water user charge when due, the user shall be entitled to a refund of that user’s deposit.

      (8)   Returned check charge. There will be a charge in the amount of $25 assessed to the consumer for each check which is returned to the town for non-sufficient funds.

      (9)   Reconnection charge. When utility service is discontinued for nonpayment, such service shall not be reinstated until a $25 reconnection fee is paid to the town. In addition, the customer will pay all delinquent charges before the water will be reconnected.

      (10)   Turn on/off fee. There will be a $25 charge assessed to the consumer for turning utility service on and off.

      (11)   Inspection fee. There will be a $25 charge assessed to the consumer for inspection of all connections to the municipal water utility including replacement of existing connections.

      (12)   System development charge. A system development charge shall be collected from each customer prior to connection to the waterworks system based on meter size as follows:

Meter Size	Meter Ratio	Charge
5/8-inch by 3/4-inch	1.0	$500
1-inch	2.5	$1,250
1-1/4-inch	4.0	$2,000
1-1/2-inch	5.0	$2,500
2-inch	8.0	$4,000
3-inch	15.0	$7,500
4-inch	25.0	$12,500
6-inch	50.0	$25,000

 

(Prior Code, § 11-1-5)

   (B)   Billing and collecting. For the purpose of billing and collecting the charges for water use, the meters shall be read monthly, provided, however, that if for some reason a meter is not read during a particular month, the Sewage Clerk may estimate the monthly billing based upon the most recent monthly meter reading. If at any time following the reading of the meter, it appears that the prior monthly billing was in error, either overstating or understating consumption, the next monthly billing shall be adjusted accordingly.

(Prior Code, § 11-1-6)

   (C)   Effective date for rates. The rates provided herein commenced with the March 31 billing cycle which is for water use from February 16, 2022 to March 15, 2022.

(Prior Code, § 11-1-7)

(Ord. 2021-12-3, passed 1-10-2022)