(A) It is the policy of the village to discontinue utility service to customers by reason of nonpayment of bills only after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard on disputed bills. The village's form for application for utility service and all bills shall contain, in addition to the title, address and telephone number of the official in charge of billing, clearly visible and easily readable provisions to the effect:
(1) That all bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on the bill;
(2) That if any bill is not paid by or before that date, a second bill will be mailed containing a cutoff notice that if the bill is not paid within 20 days of the mailing of the second bill, service will be discontinued for nonpayment; and
(3) That any customer disputing the correctness of his bill shall have a right to a hearing at which time he may be represented in person and by counsel or any other person of his choosing and may present orally or in writing his complaint and contentions to the village official in charge of utility billing. This official shall be authorized to order that the customer's service not be discontinued and shall have the authority to make a final determination of the customer's complaint.
(B) Requests for delays or waiver of payment will not be entertained; only questions of proper and correct billing with be considered. In the absence of payment of the bill rendered or resort to the hearing procedure provided herein, service will be discontinued at the time specified, but in no event until the charges have been unpaid for at least 30 days.
(C) When it becomes necessary for the village to discontinue utility service to a customer for nonpayment of bills, service will be reinstated only after all bills for service then due have been paid, along with a turn-on charge in an amount to be determined by the Village Board, regardless of whether or not ownership of the property has been transferred.
(D) If an account becomes delinquent and the village deems it necessary to take steps to collect the account, the owner of the premises, the occupant thereof and the user of the service shall, in addition to being jointly and severally liable for to pay the delinquent bill, also be jointly and severally liable for all attorneys fees and costs incurred by the village in the collection of the account.
(E) Unpaid utility service bills for which service has been disconnected shall become a lien on the real estate upon the filing by the village of a notice of lien with the Tazewell County Recorder of Deeds. The notice of lien shall contain the legal description of the premises served, the amount of the unpaid bill and a notice that the village claims a lien for the amount due, all charges subsequent to the period covered by the bill and all costs and expenses incurred by the village in collection of the bill, including without limitation attorneys fees and costs.
(Ord. 22-124, passed 12-5-2022)