(a) Statement of Status of Water and Sewer Bill to be Supplied by Seller. No person, agent, firm or corporation shall sell by deed, land contract or otherwise any interest in any premises within the Municipality, or which is supplied with Sebring water and/or sewer service without furnishing the buyer prior to the sale, a statement from the Sebring Water Department setting forth the current status of the water and/or sewer account of such premises, and when an escrow has been established, depositing in escrow prior to delivery of possession or transfer of title a statement from the buyer acknowledging the receipt of this document and accepting responsibility for all future water and/or sewer bills in accordance with this chapter.
(b) Escrow Agent: Disbursal of Funds Without Statement Prohibited. No person, firm or corporation acting in the capacity of an escrow agent in any real estate transaction involving the sale of any premises situated within the Municipality or which is supplied with Sebring water and/or sewer service, shall disburse any funds unless the provisions of this section have been met.
(c) Application for Water and/or Sewer Service. Applications for the use of water and/or sewer service for which the applicant agrees to pay shall be made and accepted in a manner prescribed by the Service Director. Provided, however, that any owner of real estate premises installing or maintaining a water and/or sewer service connection shall be considered as accepting the provisions of all lawful rules and regulations of the Department of Water and Sewer, and as agreeing in particular to be liable for all water and/or sewer service charges for the premises, whether the accounts for such premises are carried in the name of such owner, or in the name(s) of tenants or other persons. (Ord. 1142-76. Passed 11-8-76.)
(d) Penalties for Nonpayment. If any consumer refuses or neglects to pay any delinquent water and/or sewer bill, including the collection charge thereon, if any, the water and/or sewer service shall be turned off without further notice and not turned on again until all charges due and payable have been paid in full. If payment is made prior to 3:00 p.m. after the water and/or sewer service has been shut off for nonpayment, service shall be restored the same day. If payment is received after 3:00 p.m. after service has been shut off for nonpayment, service shall be restored on the next business day. Customers who wish to have their water and/or sewer restored prior to the next business day must pay an additional service charge which shall be based upon the hourly wage of the employee on call. The provisions of this section shall apply whether or not there has been change of ownership or possession of the premises supplied by water and/or sewer service. Except in cases of bankruptcy or foreclosure proceedings, no water and/or sewer service shall be restored to a premises unless and until all past due amounts relating to the water and/or sewer service to that premises have been paid in full to the Municipality. (Ord. 37-06. Passed 10-10-06.)