A. Notice; Hearing:
1. Notice Required: If a utility bill has not been paid on or before the due date as provided in this chapter, a delinquency and termination notice shall be issued by the City Clerk within five (5) days after the delinquency occurs and mailed to the customer at his or her last known address.
2. Content Of Notice: The notice shall state:
a. The amount due, plus a ten percent (10%) late fee;
b. That service will be terminated if the amount due is not paid within five (5) days from the date of the notice unless the date on the notice to pay the charges due shall be on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, in which event such notice will give the consumer until one o'clock (1:00) P.M. of the next business day in which to pay the charges;
c. That the customer has the right to a hearing before the designated Hearing Officer;
d. That the request for a hearing must be in writing and filed with the City Clerk no later than three (3) days prior to the date for termination of service.
3. Notification Of Hearing: Upon receipt of a request for hearing, the City Clerk shall advise the customer of the date, time and place of the hearing, which shall be held within three (3) working days following receipt of the request.
4. Finding: Following the hearing, if the Hearing Officer shall find that service shall not be terminated, then notice of such finding shall be presented to the City Clerk. If the officer finds that service should be terminated, an order shall be issued terminating service five (5) days after the date of the order. The customer shall be notified either in person or by mailing a letter to his or her last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested. However, if the order is made at the hearing in the presence of the customer, then no further notice need be given. The Hearing Officer has a right, for good cause, to grant an extension, not to exceed ten (10) days, for termination of such service.
B. Fee For Turning Water On: The water supply may be shut off from any premises for which the water bill remains unpaid as provided in subsection A2b of this section. When shut off, water shall not be turned on except upon the full payment of the unpaid bill and a fifty dollar ($50.00) reconnect fee unless it is done after normal business hours in which event the reconnect fee shall be seventy dollars ($70.00).
C. Additional Penalty: Any bill which remains unpaid thirty (30) days after the service termination date provided in subsection A of this section shall be assessed an additional late fee of twenty dollars ($20.00). (Ord. 1179, 3-20-2017)