(A) (1) The city’s Utilities Commission hereby establishes a sewer service charge system. All revenue collected from users of the wastewater treatment facilities will be used for annual operation, maintenance, replacement and capital costs. Each user shall pay a proportionate share of operation, maintenance and replacement costs based on the users proportionate contribution to the total wastewater loading.
(2) Charges to users of the wastewater treatment facility shall be determined and fixed in a sewer service charge system (SSCS) developed according to the provisions of this chapter. The SSCS adopted by resolution upon enactment of this chapter shall be published in the local newspaper and shall be effective upon publication. Subsequent changes in the sewer service rates and charges shall be adopted by Utilities Commission resolution and published in the local paper.
(3) Revenues collected through the SSCS shall be deposited in a separate fund known as the Sewer Service Fund (SSF).
(B) (1) The community or sewer district of the city hereby establishes a Sewer Service Fund as an income fund to receive all revenues generated by the SSCS and all other income dedicated to the wastewater treatment facility.
(2) The SSF administered by a designated representative shall be separate and apart from all other accounts. Revenue received by the SSF shall be transferred to the following accounts established as income and expenditure accounts:
(a) Operation and Maintenance;
(b) Equipment Replacement; and
(c) Debt Retirement for the treatment facility (if any).
(C) (1) A designated representative shall maintain a proper system of accounts and records suitable for determining the operation, maintenance, replacement (OM&R) and debt retirement costs of the treatment facilities and shall furnish the Utilities Commission with a report of the costs annually.
(2) At that time, the Utilities Commission shall determine whether sufficient revenue is being generated for the effective management of the facilities and department retirement. The Utilities Commission will also determine whether the user charges are distributed proportionately. If necessary, the SSCS shall be revised to ensure proportionality of user charges and sufficient funds.
(3) In accordance with state requirements, each user will be notified annually in conjunction with a regular billing of that portion of the sewer service charge attributable to OM&R.
(D) Sewer service charges shall be billed on a monthly basis. Any bill not paid in full 15 days after the due date will be considered delinquent. At that time, the user will be charged a 10% penalty for the delinquent bill. The penalty shall be computed as 10% of the original bill and shall be increased by the same percent for every month the bill is outstanding. A $50 reconnection fee will be charged if service has been discontinued due to a delinquent bill.
(Prior Code, § 505.19)
(Ord. passed 11-3-2004; Ord. passed 5-15-2007; Ord. passed 9-4-2012; Ord. passed 1-7-2014; Ord. passed 8-5-2014; Ord. passed 3-3-2015)