(A) Accounts; how kept. Accounts must be kept on the books of the Administration Department by the house and the street number and under the account number assigned thereto, and by the name the owner or of the person signing the application for service. Bills and notices sent by the Administration Department will be sent to the house or street number of the property. If nonresident owners or agents require personal notice sent to different addresses, they must file and application therefor with the Administration Department. An error in address must be promptly reported to the Administration Department. Responsibility for a notice of change of ownership rests with the owner. For purposes of this section, the term OWNER has the meaning given to it by § 10.05.
(B) Sewer rates.
(1) Schedule. The rate due and payable to the city by each sewer user within the city for sewer used will be charged per 1,000 gallons, payable periodically, subject to a minimum charge to each sewer user for each period during which service is furnished. The minimum charge represents the basic facility and service cost inherent in the operation of the sewer system. For services unable to the metered, usage charges will be billed by the average usage per month per occupant. The charges and usages are set by resolution of the City Council on an annual basis as part of the fee schedule established by § 36.02 of this code of ordinances.
(2) Estimates. In case the meter is found to have stopped or o be operating in a faulty manner, the amount of sewer used will be estimated in accordance with the amount used previously in comparable periods of the year.
(3) Billing. Where service is for less than a full billing period, the charge will be prorated.
(4) Minimum rates apply. Where service pipe is laid into the building with no intention of connecting to the building piping for use immediately, the minimum rates and charges set in division (B)(1) above apply.
(5) Installation. A meter and remote register must be installed on the street valve or well service in the house, regardless of whether the inside piping is connected.
(6) Continuance. If a sewer customer elects to discontinue the use of the municipal sewer system, the regular or minimal charge continues until the service pipe is excavated and disconnected at the curb stop.
(7) Special contract. Rates due and payable by each sewer user located beyond the territorial boundaries of the city will be determined by a special contract.
(C) Penalty for late payment. Each billing for sewer service not paid when due incurs penalty charge of 10% of the mount past due.
(D) Action to collect charges. An amount due for sewer charges may be certified to the County Auditor for collection with real estate taxes in the following year in accordance with M.S. § 444.075, as it may be amended from time to time. This certification will be regardless of who applied sewer services, whether it was the owner, tenant or other person. Applications for sewer service will contain an explanation in clear language that unpaid sewer bills will be collected with real estate taxes the following year.
(1) Sewer charges; term. The city may bring a civil action or other remedies to collect unpaid charges. For purposes of this section, the term SEWER CHARGES means and includes without limitation sewer rate charges, permit charges, availability charges, connection charges and any rate or charge authorized by M.S. § 444.075, as it may be amended from time to time, as imposed by this section.
(2) General charges; term. When unpaid charges are certified for collection with taxes, the term CHARGES includes a certification fee set by the fee schedule and interest on the unpaid charges at the annual rate as part of the fee schedule established by § 36.02 of this code of ordinances.
(Penalty, see § 10.99)