(A) Connection cost charges. All connections to the system shall be made by the township at a reasonable charge. The owner of the premises shall pay, in addition to all other charges and fees provided herein, in advance of the commencement of such connection, the actual cost to the township plus a percentage thereof to be determined from time to time by the Township Board. The owner of the premises shall pay the cost of a meter or meters installed, all of which shall be equipped with an outdoor register. The connection charges may be changed from time to time by resolution of the Township Board to reflect changes in connection costs and to maintain a fairly uniform charge within the township.
(B) Tap-in-charges.
(1) Tap-in-fee. The tap-in-fee for any service line shall be $1,100 and shall be borne entirely by the property owner. No access to the township water system shall be permitted unless the installation fee is first paid to the township. This provision shall only apply to a residential property at which an existing, accessible water main is located within 200 feet. Additional water system fees outlined in this chapter shall also be borne entirely by the property owner.
(2) Condition of tap-in-charges.
(a) A tap-in-charge is hereby established for the privilege of connecting premises within the township, or which are to be connected to the system, upon which are located buildings or structures, or for which use of water is requested to the water system if the following conditions are met:
1. A direct connection to the system is available to the premises; and
2. All connection and other charges have been paid and the plumbing to be connected has been fully inspected and approved by the township.
(b) Tap-in-charges may be changed from time to time to reflect changes in construction costs and to maintain a fairly uniform charge within the township.
(3) Minimum tap-in-charge. If a special assessment for the construction of the water system has been paid in full on the premises for which water is requested, a tap-in-charge shall be charged at the time that an application for connection to the water system is made. The tap-in-charge shall be established and adjusted from time to time by resolution of the Township Board.
(4) Tap-in-charge - special assessment district. If the premises requesting use of water is currently subject to a special assessment, the tap-in-charge shall be the greater of the minimum fee established in this section or the amount of the special assessment. If the premises requesting use of water is located within the boundaries of a special assessment district, but is not subject to a special assessment, the tap-in-charge shall be equal to the special assessment which was assessed on other premises located within the special assessment district. The total tap-in-charge shall be paid prior to connecting the premises to the water system.
(5) Multiple dwelling units. If a premises contains more than one building or structure which is used as a dwelling unit and which constitutes a permitted use under the township zoning regulations in Chapter 156 of this code of ordinances, there shall be one tap-in-fee for the premises. However, each such building or structure which constitutes a permitted use as a dwelling unit shall be separately metered and shall be subject to all other charges as provided in this chapter. A dwelling unit which is not a permitted use under the township zoning regulations shall not be connected to the system.
(C) Additional water system fees. In addition to the tap-in-fee referenced in division (B) above, the property owner of the property that is gaining access to the township’s water system (hereinafter “the subject property”) shall bear the entirety of all fees and expenses up to a maximum of $5,500 related to the subject property gaining access to the township’s water system. The maximum fees and expenses may be increased from time to time by the Township Board. The fees and expenses shall be billed to the property owner on a time and materials basis.
(1) The fees and expenses may include, but shall not be limited to, any underground boring necessary to connect the subject property to the township’s water system. Additionally, it shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner to appropriately connect the subject property to the township’s water system from the curb box to the structure located on the subject property. For any work required and/or performed between the curb box and the structure located on the subject property, it shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner to contract with a private entity to ensure that the work is appropriately and efficaciously completed.
(2) The property owner shall completely and entirely bear all expenses and fees related to any work performed from the curb box to the structure located on the subject property. The maximum fee described in this division (C) shall only apply to a residential property at which an existing, accessible water main is located within 200 feet. For any property at which an existing, accessible water main is not located within 200 feet, no maximum fee shall apply.
(D) Responsibility for charges and fees. Notwithstanding any agreement or lease between a property owner(s) and his, her or its tenant(s), the property owner of any property (hereinafter “subject property”) located in the township shall, at all times, be entirely responsible and liable for any and all water and/or sewer bill(s) (hereinafter “utility bill”) assessed to the subject property, including, but not limited to, past-due utility bill(s), regardless of whether the property owner(s) was residing or making use of the subject property at the time that the water and/or sewer charges and/or fees were incurred or assessed. Any and all charges and/or fees assessed under this section shall constitute a lien on the subject property, and any other property/properties located in the township owned by one or more owners of the subject property, and are hereby recognized to constitute a lien, and whenever any charge against any piece of property shall be delinquent for six months, the township official or officials in charge of the collection thereof shall certify annually, on September 1 of each year, to the tax-assessing officer of the township the facts of the delinquency, whereupon the charge shall be by the officer entered upon the next tax roll as a charge against the premises and shall be collected and the lien thereof enforced in the same manner as general township taxes against the premises are collected and the lien thereof enforced.
(Ord. 10-09-84, passed 8-20-2019; Amend. Ord. 10-09-84, passed 6-15-2021; Ord. 10-19-21, passed 10-19-2021) Penalty, see § 51.99