Subd. 1. Rates and charges.
a. Rates established. The following rates and charges for use and services of the sanitary sewer system are established; the charges and rates to be made against each lot, parcel or land, unit or premises which may have a connection directly or indirectly into the city sanitary sewer system and which discharges only normal sewage into the system.
(1) Minimum charges. The minimum quarterly charge, whether the use of water is metered or not metered, shall be that quarterly or monthly charge established by ordinance of the City Council.
(2) Metered charges. Metered flow charges shall be as established by ordinance of the City Council.
b. Beginning service. For a fraction of a quarter, the charges and rates for nonmetered units shall be based upon the amount of the established flat charge; provided, however, that the actual month of beginning shall be considered as having begun on the first or the fifteenth of the month, whichever is closer.
c. Determination of amount of water entering sewage system. If the lot, parcel of land or premises discharges normal sewage or industrial waste into the sanitary sewerage system, either directly or indirectly, and it can be shown to the satisfaction of the City Council that a portion of the water measured by the water meter does not and cannot enter the sanitary sewerage system, then, and in that event, the City Council may permit or require the installation of other or additional meters in a manner that the quantity of water which actually could enter the sewer system may be determined. In this case, the charges or rates shall be based upon the amount of water which can enter the sanitary sewage system.
d. Estimated charges. If the owner, occupant or person in charge of any premises shall fail or refuse to provide information as provided in subdivision 1c hereof, or shall fail or refuse to comply with any requirement of this chapter, the proper charge for the premises shall be estimated and billed in accordance with the estimate.
Subd. 2. Meter use for nonresidential premises.
a. Use of meter. A meter recording the use of water may be installed on any nonresidential lot, parcel, premises or unit enumerated in subdivision 1 of this section and thereafter the rate shall be based upon the use of water. The City Council may, by resolution, require and order the installation of the meter on any lot, parcel, premises or unit, or class thereof, where it shall determine that the aforementioned flat charges are impractical to apply, or result in inequitable charges because insufficient or excessive; and thereafter, the rate shall be based upon the use of water.
b. Installation and maintenance. Any water meter installed for use or used as a basis for the computation of sewer rates shall be installed and maintained in good operating condition at all times, the installation and maintenance to be without expense to the city. Any meter shall be of a type approved by the City Council and shall accurately measure all water received on the premises. Installation and maintenance of the meter shall be made in accordance with the plumbing regulations of this city.
Subd. 3. Bills for service.
a. Determination of billing, information required. The owner, occupant or person in charge of any premises shall supply the city with the information as the city may reasonably require related to use of water, use of sewer or sewer rates. Wilful failure to provide the information or wilful falsification of the information shall constitute a violation of this chapter, as shall wilful failure to comply with any requirement or order issued pursuant to this chapter.
b. Billing. Statements for charges for sanitary sewer use and service for a quarterly period shall be mailed to each property owner or user on or before the tenth day 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 statements.
c. 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.
Subd. 4. Revenues. All revenues derived from these rates and charges shall be credited to the Sewer Operating Fund. The revenue shall be used only for the purpose of paying the cost of operating and maintaining the sewage system, paying charges made by the MWCC, providing an adequate depreciation fund, paying costs of meter reading, billing, collection and other similar or related sewer operating expenses. If the rates and charges prescribed herein do not produce a net revenue sufficient to permit payment of the purposes for which established, the rates and charges provided herein shall be adjusted from time to time to permit the accumulation of net revenues equal to the charges and expenses of operating the sanitary sewer system.
Subd. 5. Violation. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(1987 Code, § 904.15) (Ord. 68, passed 2-12-1973; Ord. 80, passed 8-26-1974; Ord. 118, passed 3-31-1980; Ord. 219, passed 12-4-1989) Penalty, see § 104.01