(A) Water rental consumers shall be divided into nine divisions or categories, stated as rate classes, as follows:
(1) Class 1, all single-unit hookups within the city limits;
(2) Class 2, all multiple-units under one meter, and located within the city limits;
(3) Class 3, trailer courts within the city limits;
(4) Class 4, single-unit hookups outside the city limits;
(5) Class 5, churches and church-related single-unit hookups outside the city limits;
(6) Class 6, multiple-unit hookups for churches and church-related dwellings, households, residences, or establishments outside the city limits and operating under one meter;
(7) Class 7, the Springfield Correctional Facility;
(8) Class 8, industrial within the city limits; and
(9) Class 9, industrial outside the city limits
(Prior Code, § 5.0301)
(B) Rates and charges shall be established and approved by the Common Council from time to time by resolution for the following classes, and shall be payable as the minimum charge for each 1,000 gallons or part thereof in excess of 2,000 gallons of water supplied and distributed within and outside the city limits, and by the city, in each calendar month, to each dwelling household, residence, or establishment connected to the municipal water and distribution system. For the purposes of this chapter, multiple units shall consist of two or more dwellings, households, residences, or establishments located in the same building or premises, regardless whether the water rental charges are paid by the consumer of each unit individually, or by one party collectively or totally. A separate unit engaged in doing light housekeeping, for instance, shall be considered as a unit in determining whether a multiple-unit classification shall be assigned.
(1) For Class 1, all single-unit hookups within the city limits, rates and charges shall be established and approved by the Common Council from time to time by resolution.
(2) For Class 2, all multiple-units utilizing one meter, and located within the city limits, due to existing multiple-unit dwellings, households, residences, or establishments located in the same building and served by one common meter, instead of a single meter for each individual unit, such multiple-unit dwellings, households, residences, or establishments shall have their monthly water rental charges calculated as follows.
(a) The meter reading utilization of the one common meter shall be divided equally by the number of units served thereby by such single meter, and each unit shall be subject to the Class 1 rate schedule, and the said Class 1 rate schedule shall be applied to the calculation of such equal division of the total water meter reading utilization of each individual unit occupied.
(b) Owners of the multiple-unit building must pay the monthly water charges and assessments promptly for the full, total, and aggregate amount due collectively for each building so serve by the common meter. Such calculations of monthly billings shall apply only to existing multiple-unit dwellings, multiple-unit households, multiple-unit residences, or multiple-unit establishments served by one common meter and existing at the initial effective date of this chapter. All multiple-unit dwellings, multiple-unit households, multiple-unit residences, or multiple-unit establishments constructed, or established, after the initial effective date of this chapter, shall be subject to either one of these two options.
1. Each and every unit shall be served by an individual meter, separately and individually, and the regular Class 1 rate schedule shall apply for each separate meter; and one extra utility and building-services meter be installed, and the regular Class 1 rate shall apply to such extra utility and building-services meter.
2. All multiple-unit dwellings, multiple-unit households, multiple unit residences, or multiple-unit establishments located in the same building may be served by one common meter provided that the following are complied with:
a. A central, common meter be installed and maintained at the owner’s cost;
b. An additional water meter be installed for the utility and building-services function, and that the plumbing be installed so that the utilization for such utility and building-services function can be accurately isolated for meter measurements; such second meter to be furnished by the city;
c. The meter reading utilization of the one common meter shall be divided equally by the number of occupied units served thereby; and that each unit shall be subject to the Class 1 rate schedule for the calculation of each equal division of the total meter reading of the central, common meter. A monthly minimum (or more according to actual meter reading) shall be assessed for each and every individual unit occupied, in addition to a minimum (or more according to actual meter reading) for the utility and building-services function meter;
d. Owners of the multiple-unit building shall pay the monthly water charges and assessments promptly for the full, total, and aggregate amount due collectively for each building so served by the common meter; and
e. Any multiple-unit dwellings, multiple-unit households, multiple-unit residences, or multiple-unit establishments existing prior to the initial effective date of this chapter may hereinafter select such options.
(3) For Class 3, trailer courts within the city limits, trailer courts, or mobile-home courts, currently having several or all units served through one or more common meter(s), and duly approved for this rate schedule by the Common Council, shall have their monthly water rental charges calculated as follows: The total meter reading utilization(s) of one or more common meter(s) shall be divided equally by the number of occupied units (trailer homes, mobile homes, dwellings, service buildings, or other units) served thereby to obtain an equal division (average). Each/every unit shall have the monthly water rental charges calculated as established by the Common Council from time to time by resolution. The owner or operator of the trailer court shall remit each month the full sum, total, and aggregate amount due collectively as calculated for the individual units served by one or more meter(s), and provided such total monthly water rental charges are paid before they become delinquent.
(4) For Class 4, single-unit hookups outside the city limits, all single-unit dwellings, households, residences, units, or hookups located outside the city limits shall be assessed monthly water rental charges at a higher rate than that of Class 1 established and approved by the Common Council from time to time by resolution.
(5) For Class 5, churches and church-related single-unit hookups outside the city limits, the rates and charges are hereby established to be the same as those assigned for Class 1.
(6) For Class 6, multiple-unit hookups for churches and church-related dwellings, household, residences, or establishments outside the city limits and currently operating under one meter, this class, having several or all units served through one common meter, the monthly water rental charges shall be calculated and determined as follows: The first 2,000 gallons shall be charged to the church, church-related, or worship facilities, and assessed the minimum charge using the Class 1 rates. The remaining utilization, obtained from the common meter after the deduction of the first 2,000 gallons, shall be assigned to the second unit. The monthly water rental charge shall be based upon the Class 1 rates commencing with minimum charge and the subsequent steps as applicable for such second unit.
(7) For Class 7, Springfield Correctional Facility, rates and charges shall be negotiated with the Springfield Correctional Facility at periodic intervals deemed desirable by the Common Council.
(8) For Class 8, industrial within the city limits, industrial rates for industries located within the corporate limits of the city shall be negotiable between the Common Council and the industrial unit.
(9) For Class 9, industrial outside the city limits. industrial rates for industries located outside the corporate city shall be negotiated between the Common Council and the industrial unit, but shall be at a higher rate than that of Class 8.
(Prior Code, § 5.0302)
(C) The rates, and rate schedules, enacted, approved, negotiated, fixed, or accepted in this section for all classes (one through, and including, nine) shall not, necessarily, include water rights fees, regulatory charges, program-policing fees, severance taxes, analysis or review fee, or any other related water utility charges, fees, or impositions against the city by state, federal, or other governments or governmental agencies. Any such charges, fees, imposed costs, severance or other taxes, or any other fees may, at the discretion of the Common Council, be passed on to the city’s water patrons, customers, users, or purchasers (regardless of classification). Such charges may be prorated equitably, divided equally, or apportioned at the discretion of the Common Council, and billed and identified as a separate line item on one or more periodic billing statements or cycles until such charges are recovered, reimbursed, or indemnified.
(Prior Code, § 5.03021)
(Ord. 420, passed 11-2-1994; Ord. 477, passed 8-6-2007; Ord. 492, passed 5-2-2011; Res/ passed - -2015)