(A) Applicants for utility services are required to establish credit before receiving such service. Credit shall be deemed established if the applicant meets one of the following options:
(1) Makes a cash deposit of $40 as a guarantee for the payment of future bills.
(2) Has been a customer of city utility services for 12 consecutive months within the last 18 months, and during such time has paid all bills without any delinquency.
(3) Provide the city with a letter of credit reference from another utility company showing an on-time payment record for the period of at least the 12 consecutive months directly prior to the date of the requested service.
(B) If a consumer fails to pay a bill for garbage and refuse collection services, the city may apply the deposit insofar as necessary to liquidate the account and may require that the deposit be restored to an amount twice the original deposit amount.
(C) After a cash deposit to guarantee payment for garbage and refuse service has stood unimpaired for 12 months, such deposit shall be applied to the depositor's current account balance. Upon closing any account, the balance of any deposit remaining, after the closing bill for service has been paid, shall be returned promptly to the depositor.
(Ord. 2022-005, passed 9-27-22)