Subd. 1. Rates and charges established.
a. Water service rates - quarterly rates. The water rate due and payable to the city by each water user for water taken from the municipal water system shall be at a quarterly rate established by a ordinance of the City Council. Where service is for less than a quarterly period, the quarterly charge will be prorated on a monthly basis.
b. Meter charges. A charge for a water meter shall be made by the city. Property owners or users shall pay in advance before delivery of the water meter for installation. The charge shall be as established by the City Council by ordinance.
c. Water turn on. The established turn-on fee will be charged for turning on water where service has been shut off for nonpayment of water billings, failure to repair a leak, discontinuance of service, or other reason specified in this chapter.
d. Estimated and adjusted rates.
(1) In the event the water meter servicing any property is found to be operating in a faulty manner or to have become inoperative, the amount of water will be estimated in accordance with the amount previously used in comparable periods of the year.
(2) The City Council shall be authorized to make adjustments in water charges when the amount billed is erroneous due to a meter deficiency or other mistake.
e. Rates outside city limits. Rates due and payable by each water user located beyond the territorial boundaries of the city shall be determined by special contract.
Subd. 2. Listing of accounts. All accounts shall be kept on the books of the city in the name of the owner of the property served. All bills and notices sent out by the city shall be sent to the address of the property served. If nonresident owners or agents desire personal notice sent to a different address, they shall file an application therefore with the city. Any error in address shall be promptly reported to the city.
Subd. 3. Bills for services, delinquencies, discontinuance, tax assessments.
a. Billing. Statements for charges for water service for a quarterly period shall be mailed to each property owner or user on or before the tenth day of the first month following the end of the quarter and shall be due and payable on or before the last day of the months of January, April, July and October following the quarterly period covered by the statement.
b. Delinquencies. After the last day of the month in which payment is due, a penalty of 10% of the unpaid account balance will be assessed and added to the amount due on the account. If the balance due on the account is not paid in full within 45 days of the day on which the account became due, a notice shall be sent to the property owner or user informing the property owner or user that the account is delinquent and that unless the account balance is paid in full within 15 days, the water may be shut off and the prescribed shut-off fee will be assessed.
c. Discontinuance of service. If the property owner or user does not respond to the notice given above, prior to the date indicated in the notice, and the statement remains unpaid, the water may be shut off at the curb stop. Prior to the water being turned back on again, the property owner or user shall be required to pay all delinquent charges, plus penalties and shut-off fees, and the prescribed turn-on fee.
d. Appeals to discontinuance of service. The property owner or user may appeal the notice to the City Council during the 15 day period set forth in Subd. 3(b). Water service shall continue to the appealing property owner or user pending the decision of the Council on the appeal. Upon the determination of the Council, the water may be shut off pursuant to Subd. 3(c) as set forth above.
e. Tax assessments. All delinquent accounts may be certified by the Clerk who shall prepare an assessment roll each year providing for assessment of the delinquent accounts against the respective property served. This assessment roll shall be delivered to the City Council for adoption prior to November 30 of each year and upon approval thereof, the Clerk shall certify to the County Auditor the amount due, plus a certification fee as established by ordinance of the City Council, and the County Auditor shall thereupon enter the amount as part of the tax levy on the premises to be collected during the ensuing year. The action may be optional or subsequent to taking legal action to collect delinquent accounts.
(Ord. 395, passed 7-28-2003; Am. Ord. 456, passed 2-9-2009; Am. Ord. 464, passed 2-22-2010)