(A) Deposit required.
(1) All new and existing customers of the water and/or sewer utilities shall be required to pay and maintain a security deposit in the amount of $200 at all times plus a connect fee (inside city limits ($45) or outside city limits ($60).
(2) All customers requesting utility service shall personally sign the application for services and provide verification of name and current address for billing.
(3) In the event any utility customer's service is disconnected for late payment, the city will apply the deposit to the deficiency and require full payment of any delinquent utility account, in addition to any reconnection fees and reinstatement of the full security deposit prior to reinstatement and reconnection of utility services.
(4) Security deposits shall remain with the city until termination of services.
(B) Application of utility deposits.
(1) All utility deposits held with the city shall, in addition to securing the payment for utility services received, also secure and may be applied to any other debt or obligation owed the city by the person or entity having made the utility deposit. The remaining balance of any and all utility deposits collected by the city for water, sewer or solid waste disposal shall be returned to the individual who secured the deposit in his or her name, at such time as such person terminates such utility service with the city.
(2) The deposit will first be applied to any outstanding utility or solid waste disposal bills, then to any additional outstanding debts to the city and the remainder will be returned upon proper request and application. Additional outstanding debts of the individual seeking return of a utility deposit include but are not limited to:
(a) Other utility services which have been provided under said person's name and that have an outstanding balance due and owing to the city;
(b) Any ambulance, EMS, fire or other such city operated services which have bills outstanding in such person's name;
(c) Liens placed by the city upon any property owned by such person; and
(d) Any outstanding fees, charges, court costs, fines or warrants payable by such person by virtue of any record, action or proceeding in the Municipal Court.
(3) No interest shall accrue or be due for any security deposits for water, sewer or solid waste disposal.
(4) A charge and fee in the amount of $1 per month, not to exceed the balance of the utility deposit, is hereby established for each account that is required to be maintained by the city for and with respect to services, accounts, and service addresses for which a customer terminated utility service or for which a utility deposit is returned by postal service to the city for wrong forwarding address. Upon any such customer entitled to receive a refund of any such utility deposit balances contacting the city and obtaining the refund, or the depletion of such remaining deposit balance, the account shall be closed. The $1 fee shall be deducted from the utility deposit balance until the latest of:
(a) Eighteen months after the date a refund check for the utility deposit was payable to the owner of the deposit;
(b) Eighteen months after the date the city last received documented communication from the owner of the utility deposit; or
(c) Eighteen months after the date the city issued a refund check for the deposit payable to the owner of the deposit if, according to the knowledge and city's records, during that period, a claim to the check has not been asserted or an act of ownership by the payee has not been exercised.
(5) Whenever the Utility Department applies deposit to any outstanding debt or refuses to return a deposit, the individual seeking return of a deposit held in their name may, if not satisfied with the decision of the Director of the Utility Department, appeal the decision to the City Manager within ten days from the date of the decision.
(C) Transfer of services.
(1) Any existing customer requesting a transfer of any utilities must maintain the appropriate deposit for the utility services being transferred. Any existing deposit, less deficiencies on the existing account, will be transferred directly to the new account. Any deficiencies in the prior utility account will also be transferred to the new utility account. Transfer fee is $45.
(2) No customer will be allowed to transfer and maintain services without paying all deficiencies on existing or prior utility accounts in full and having the full deposit for utility services on deposit with the city at the time of transfer, but not later than the next complete billing cycle at the transfer location.
(D) Customer service inspections. All customers receiving services from the city shall be subject to a customer service inspection by the city's certified Customer Service Inspection employee. The fee for the "CSI" inspection is $50. A customer service inspection is an examination of the private water distribution facility for the purpose of providing or denying water service. The inspection is limited to the identification and prevention of cross-connections, potential contaminant hazards, and illegal lead materials. Customer service inspections are completed before providing continuous water service to new construction, on any existing service where there is reason to believe that cross-connections or other potential contaminant hazards exist, or after any material improvement, correction, or addition to private water distribution facilities.
(Ord. 2019-005, passed 8- -2019)