(A) (1) Bills for water use will be rendered monthly and must be paid in the office of the City Clerk-Treasurer. If a bill is not paid when due, the user shall be considered delinquent in the payment of this bill. The City Water Works may, at any time thereafter, terminate water service to the premises occupied by the delinquent user within five days from the due date stated on the bill. A $50 service fee will be charged at the close of the business day stated on the bill as the delinquent disconnect date. If a user, who is not the land owner, is considering entering into a payment agreement with the City Water Works that would avoid the termination of service, the land owner of the premises served shall be made a party to the agreement before it is finalized.
(2) A penalty equal to 10% of the delinquent amount shall be charged on any account that is 15 days delinquent.
(B) The rates and charges fixed in this chapter, as well as its other provisions, shall be extended to and cover any premises that obtain water service from the city following the enactment of this chapter, without the necessity of any hearing or notice.
(C) If any service rate or charge established by this chapter is not paid within 60 days after the notice of intent to disconnect, a statement for the charge may be placed in the hands of the City Attorney, who shall institute a civil action in the name of the City Waterworks to recover the amount of the unpaid charges, reasonable and necessary attorney fees and court costs, when the City Attorney, in the exercise of his or her discretion, deems such an action likely to result in the payment of the unpaid bill and charges.
(D) The city shall have no liability or responsibility to provide water or sewage service to any residence or business within the city, where there exists an outstanding water or sewage bill.
(E) Any over payment or under payment of water or sewage bills up to and including $3 shall not be refunded or billed to the utility user at the time of termination of service.
(Ord. 1456, passed 8-20-56; Am. Ord. 98-5, passed 4-13-98; Am. Ord. 99-8, passed 8-23-99; Am. Ord. 00-6, passed 5-8-00; Am. Ord. 00-20, passed 11-27-00; Am. Ord. 2001-17, passed 1-14-02; Am. Ord. 2002-05, passed 6-10-02; Am. Ord. 2003-12, passed 10-13-03; ; Am. Ord. 2004-06, passed 9-13-04; Am. Ord. 2004-15, passed 11-22-04)