13.04.060: SEWER SERVICE FEES AND CHARGES:
   For the purpose of providing funds for the operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of the sanitary sewer system of the city, there are fixed and established charges for the use of such system levied and to be levied against each respective customer thereof within and without the city, as follows:
   A.   Residential Rates:
      1.   All customers who discharge a domestic sewer waste into the municipal sewer system shall be assessed a sewer use charge as hereinafter provided.
      2.   The monthly fees or charges for sanitary sewer service for residences shall be as follows:
         a.   For a single residence, two- to four-family residences or mobile home parks with metered water service the base rate shall be computed as follows: a base fee of ten dollars and fifty cents ($10.50) per residential unit plus:
            (1)   Four dollars and eighty cents ($4.80) per thousand gallons of water consumption based on the winter average as herein defined; or
            (2)   For new Customers with metered service for which a winter average cannot, regardless of cause, be determined, four dollars and eighty cents ($4.80) per thousand gallons of equivalent usage of five thousand gallons (for a total, including the base fee, of thirty-four dollars and fifty cents ($34.50) per month).
         b.   For a multiple dwelling residence (apartments), with metered water service the base rate shall be computed as follows: a base fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) per residential unit plus four dollars and ninety-five cents ($4.95) per thousand gallons of water consumption based on the winter average as herein defined.
      3.   The term “winter average” shall mean the average water usage for the three (3) winter months of December, January and February last preceding the computation.
      4.   Winter average water usage information should be reviewed annually in March and the sewer charge adjusted, for those customers with metered water usage in December, January, and February, in the April billing to reflect any changes in sewer charges based on water usage in the three (3) winter months of December, January and February last preceding the review. Winter average water usage volumes will then be in effect for twelve (12) months, or until reviewed the following March.
      5.   In the event there are valid factors for an adjustment of the sewer rate for a residence, the rate may be adjusted by the City Clerk based on criteria set forth by resolution duly adopted by the City Council but in no event shall the rate be less than the prior years annual average amount.
   B.   Business Rates:
      1.   The monthly fee or charge for sanitary sewer service for businesses, eleemosynary institutions, commercial businesses, or industry shall be computed or assessed as a base fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) per each business, institution or industry plus:
         a.   Four dollars and ninety-five cents ($4.95) per thousand gallons of water usage during the last preceding month; or
         b.   In instances where water usage is not available for the last preceding month, four dollars and ninety-five cents ($4.95) per thousand gallons of the winter average as determined by the City for such business, institution, commercial business, or industry.
      2.   In the event there are valid factors for an adjustment in the sewer rate for a business, institution, or industry the charge may be adjusted by the city clerk based on criteria set forth by resolution duly adopted by the city council but in no event shall the rate be less than the prior month’s amount.
   C.   Conditions For Review:
      1.   The sewer use fees provided for in subsections A1 through A5 and B1 and B2 of this section shall be reviewed at least biannually and revised periodically to reflect actual operation and maintenance costs of the treatment works so as to:
         a.   Maintain the proportionate distribution of operation and maintenance costs among users;
         b.   Generate sufficient revenue for total operation and maintenance costs;
         c.   Apply excess revenues collected from a class of users to the operation and maintenance costs for that class of users in the next year.
      2.   All costs for treatment of toxic pollutants shall be apportioned and charged to the dischargers of such toxic pollutants.
      3.   Users of the sanitary sewer system shall be notified at least annually of the wastewater treatment service portion of the utility billing.
      4.   Charges for extraneous flow (I/I) shall be made on the same basis as operation and maintenance cost charges.
      5.   The user charge system set forth in subsections A1 through A5 and B1 and B2 of this section and the provisions of this section shall take precedence over any terms, conditions of the utility service agreement, or contracts with customers, applicants, and users which are inconsistent with the terms hereof.
      6.   The city shall prepare and maintain all records necessary to document compliance with the provisions of this section.
   D.   Customers Outside The City Limits: For all customers outside the city, whether residential or business, an additional sanitary sewer system use and maintenance fee of five dollars fifty cents ($5.50) per residential unit or business customer shall be assessed. Said sanitary sewer system use and maintenance fee shall be deposited in the city’s sewer line maintenance fund to cover the costs of building, replacing, maintaining, improving, and repairing of the sanitary sewer system, including, but not limited to, repairing and replacing sewer lines servicing customers outside the city.
   E.   Customers Inside The City Limits: For all customers inside the city limits, whether residential or business, an additional sanitary sewer system use and maintenance fee of one dollar fifty cents ($1.50) per residential unit or business customer shall be assessed. The sanitary sewer system use and maintenance fee shall be deposited in the city’s sewer line maintenance fund to cover the costs of building, replacing, maintaining, improving, and repairing of the sanitary sewer system, including, but not limited to, repairing and replacing sewer lines servicing customers within the City.
(Ord. 1232 §1, 2023: Ord. 1134, 2013: Ord. 1030 §1, 2006: Ord. 1013 §1, 2006)