(A) Bills for water and sewer service shall be rendered monthly and shall be delinquent after the tenth day of the month following their rendition. Extensions will be provided for Sundays and legal holidays. There will be a delinquent reconnection charge in an amount as shall be established from time to time by the City Council.
(B) When the bill of any water and sewer customer becomes delinquent for 45 days, the City Clerk shall notify the utility customer in writing by United States mail, with postage properly affixed thereon, that the water and sewer service is to be terminated. The notice specifically shall inform the user of the following and shall be in the form determined by the hearing officer designated below:
(1) The hearing officer will be appointed by the Mayor from time to time;
(2) The customer may contact the Clerk to request a hearing in the matter;
(3) The request must be made within three days of receipt of the termination notice;
(4) If the request is made, a hearing will be held within ten days of the receipt of the delinquent notice; and
(5) The service will be discontinued on the first day of the month following delinquency if no request for a hearing is made.
(C) (1) If water service has been stopped, shut off or terminated due to delinquency, it shall not again be turned on or reinstated until the customer or owner has paid a re-connection charge as follows.
(a) If the re-connection is prior to 3:30 p.m., the customer or owner shall pay a fee in the amount of $25 for the first re-connection in a calendar year and $50 for each additional re-connection in the calendar year.
(b) If the re-connection is after 3:30 p.m., the customer or owner shall pay an additional $50 in each instance.
(2) At the time of the first re-connection, the customer or owner will be required to sign an acknowledgment that the customer or owner is aware that if additional re-connection fees are required in the calendar year, each additional re-connection fee will be $50 before 3:30 p.m., or $100.00 after 3:30 p.m.
(3) If the customer or owner refuses to sign the acknowledgment, the refusal shall be noted by the City Clerk and placed of record.
(D) In the event a customer requests a hearing before termination of service for nonpayment of a delinquent water and sewer bill, the Clerk shall, at the time the request is made, advise the person of the time, place and date for the hearing. The hearing officer shall examine evidence submitted by the customer and by the city and on the basis thereof make findings as to the status of the customer's account.
(E) If the findings reached at the hearing are adverse to the customer, they shall be reduced to writing promptly, with a copy to be forwarded by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the customer and to the owner of the property served. The notice also shall contain the date on which service to the customer will be discontinued.
('74 Code, § 27-66) (Ord. 970, passed 11-20-79; Am. Ord. 1061, passed 7-21-87; Am. Ord. 1252, passed 6-5-01; Am. Ord. 1284, passed 8-5-03; Am. Ord. 1383, passed 8-5-08; Am. Ord. 1401, passed 4-21-09)