(A) (1) If the consumer believes his, her, or their bill to be in error, he, she, or they shall present his, her, or their claim, in person, at the Town Hall before the bill becomes delinquent.
(2) Such claim, if made after the bill has become delinquent, shall not be effective in preventing discontinuance of service as heretofore provided.
(3) The consumer may pay such bill under protest and said payment shall not prejudice his, her, or their claim.
(B) The town will make special meter readings at the request of the consumer for a fee of $5 provided, however, that if such special reading discloses that the meter was over-read, no charge will be made.
(C) Meters will be tested at the request of the consumer upon payment to the town of the actual cost to the town of making the test provided; however, that if the meter is found to over-register beyond 5% of the correct volume, no charge will be made.
(D) If a meter fails to register correctly or is stopped for any cause, the consumer shall pay an amount estimated from the record of his, her, or their previous bills and/or from other proper data.
(E) The town’s water leak adjustment policy is as follows:
(1) The consumer shall notify Town Hall immediately or within 30 days of when the bill is received if he, she, or they feels the usage for the period is excessive. Water leak has to be three times the average before an adjustment will be considered.
(2) Leak adjustments are for occupied residential dwellings only. No leak adjustments for irrigation. No leak adjustments for newly built residential dwellings for the first year. From this date December 17, 2020, leak adjustments will only be given for consumers with no more than two households on a single meter.
(3) If there is a leak which requires a plumber, the consumer should be sure to keep his, her, or their bill. If the consumer is able to repair it himself, herself, or themself, he, she, or they must show receipts of materials used.
(4) The consumer must be in good standing and current. Pay the bill on time, and if an adjustment is due, there will be a credit given on the account.
(5) The proper procedure to follow for an adjustment is to make a request to the Board of Commissioners in writing, along with a copy of the plumber’s bill or a copy of the material bill if done by the consumer.
(6) The town’s Board of Commissioners will review the request and determine if the consumer is eligible for a leak adjustment.
(7) Adjustments for water leaks will be granted one time every year, 12 months. In case there is a second leak on any meter in the 12 months that is greater than the first, the town will allow the consumer to pay the full amount on the first leak and adjust the second. In the event the leak expands into the next billing cycle without notice given to the town it will be one adjustment.
(8) In the event a consumer experiences more than two leaks in three years that require an adjustment to be eligible for future adjustments they must explain to the Board what repairs have been made to ensure no further leaks occur for that residence.
(F) Adjustments will be determined by the following steps:
(1) The leakage amount of water will be billed as follows for in-town consumers:
0-15,000 gallons | $4.32 per 1,000 gallons |
15,001-40,000 gallons | $4.80 per 1,000 gallons |
40,001 gallons and over | $10.08 per 1,000 gallons |
(2) Out of town rates will be:
0-15,000 gallons | $6.48 per 1,000 gallons |
15,001-40,000 gallons | $7.22 per 1,000 gallons |
40,000 gallons and over | $12.72 per 1,000 gallons |
(3) Oakwood and the Pines will be:
0-15,000 gallons | $6.71 per 1,000 gallons |
15,001-40,000 gallons | $7.45 per 1,000 gallons |
40,001 gallons and over | $12.77 per 1,000 gallons |
(G) Adjustments will be determined by the following steps:
(1) Add the total of usage for the last 12 previous bills;
(2) Divide by 12 for average per month;
(3) Subtract average from leak bill. Divide the difference by one and one-half for the adjustment;
(4) Take adjustment amount put amount in “What if Calculation” to get the amount owed for the adjustment amount;
(5) Subtract adjustment from leak bill and this will give what amount is owed; and
(6) Consumers may make payments:
Under $500 | Over six months |
$500 - $1,000 | Over one-year period |
$1,000 - $5,000 | Over three-year period |
Above $5,000 | Over five-year period |
(Prior Code, § 15-32) (Ord. passed 11-21-1985; Ord. passed 11-16-2000)