(a) The charge levied by or pursuant to this chapter shall be billed quarterly and shall be payable at any place officially designated by Council, and all checks, money orders and so forth, shall be payable to the Municipality.
(b) Delinquent bills shall be those bills not paid within twenty-five days after the date of billing. A final notice shall be sent to those residents, users or property owners whose bills are delinquent notifying those residents, users or property owners that their water service shall be disconnected if the final bill is not paid within ten days after the mailing date.
(1) Those residents, users or property owners whose accounts remain delinquent after this ten-day period shall have their water service discontinued, the service not being restored until payment of the entire account balance including an off-and-on charge as established by Resolution of Council, a ten percent (10%) late fee penalty, and any other assessment has been remitted in full to the City Manager.
(2) A returned check charge of thirty dollars ($30.00) shall be in addition to the delinquent bill, if that payment by check has resulted in the check being returned unpaid for any reason to the City Manager.
(c) Prior to any water service being disconnected or terminated, the Finance Director, or his or her designee, shall cause a notice to be given to the residents, users, or property owners whose account remains delinquent after the ten (10) day period set forth above in subsection (b) by U.S. mail, indicating the intent of the disconnection or termination of said service. Said notice shall indicate that the residents, users or property owners have a right to a hearing before the Finance Director of the City regarding said disconnection or termination of water services. Said notice shall further indicate that the residents, users or property owners must request, in writing, such hearing and that such request must be made no later than five (5) days after receipt of such notice by the residents, users or property owners. If the residents, users or property owners request a hearing within the five-day period, the Finance Director shall set a time and place for said hearing which shall be not less than five (5) days after receipt of the hearing request from the residents, users or property owners. Upon filing a request for hearing, the residents, users or property owners shall be responsible to ascertain the time set for hearing. Parties of interest so requesting shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard at such hearing. The Finance Director shall make all findings and a determination upon the facts and evidence presented during said hearing.
(d) Each charge levied pursuant to this chapter is made a lien upon the corresponding lot, land or premises served by a connection to the water system of the Municipality, and upon becoming delinquent, the water service may be shut off and the charges shall be certified to the County Auditor, who shall place the same on the tax duplicate of the county, along with the interest and penalties allowed by law. This charge, including interest and penalties, shall be collected as other taxes are collected.
(Ord. 12-10. Passed 9-20-10; Res. 18-26. Passed 6-4-18.)