A. Failure To Pay Bill; Actions And Penalties: Upon failure of any customer to pay any part of a water or utility bill submitted by the city by the fifteenth day following the date of the bill, the following actions and penalties shall result:
1. The bill will be considered delinquent. Having been declared delinquent, a grace period of not more than twenty four (24) hours will be granted for full payment after which the city shall disconnect or discontinue any or all utility services.
2. A fee of ten percent (10%) of the total amount shall be added to any utility bill which is not paid by the tenth day of the following billing date.
3. When a utility bill is not paid within twenty (20) days after the billing date, the authorized agents of the city may disconnect or discontinue any or all utility services to the customer after providing written notice to the customer of the intent of the city to disconnect or discontinue any or all of the utility services, and a service charge as set by the city council in addition to the delinquent payment and late charges will be collected before water service will be reinstated.
4. The authorized agents of the city may discontinue to furnish water to any customer refusing or neglecting to pay all or any part of a utility bill submitted after providing written notice to the customer of the intent of the city to disconnect the water service.
5. An additional fee as set by the city council will be charged for removal of a water meter due to nonpayment of a water or utility bill, in addition to all previous charges, to renew water service.
B. Payment Of Charges And Penalties Required: If any utility service is discontinued or disconnected pursuant to this section, the city, or its agents, shall not reconnect or reestablish the service until the full amount of any outstanding utility service bill is paid, plus the penalty provided in this section, plus any applicable charges or expenses in reconnecting or reestablishing the service.
C. Service Charge: A service charge as set by the city council is required for any water meter service reconnection and for each time the water service is turned off or on.
D. Meter Deposit Required; Refund:
1. Deposit Required: A meter deposit as set by the city council shall be required for each residential or commercial water service connection. Each meter will require a separate deposit.
2. Deposit Refund Policy: Refund policies pertaining to meter deposits shall be established by the administrative staff and based on the customer's payment record. No meter deposit shall be returned to a customer prior to a three (3) year holding period unless service is terminated. (Ord. 1048, 11-14-2006; amd. Ord. 1081, 4-8-2008, eff. 5-8-2008)