A utility billing account for sewer shall be considered delinquent upon the failure of any customer or user to pay the full amount owed, including any service fees, interest, penalties, and/or required deposits, after thirty (30) days from the date on which the bill is stated to be due. In addition to the penalties provided for within this chapter, delinquent utility billing accounts for sewer shall be processed in the following manner:
A. Disconnection Of Sewer: After an account has become thirty (30) days delinquent the City may, in addition to all other remedies available to the City for collection on open accounts, initiate termination procedures to terminate sewer service to the described premises by entering the described premises, pursuant to the right of ingress and egress granted by the customer to the City in the utility service agreement, with all personnel and equipment necessary to accomplish the disconnection of the sewer service line to the main sewer line belonging to the City. In addition to the notice provisions contained herein, the City may serve notice to any appropriate State agency of its intent to terminate utility services to the described property.
B. Termination Procedures And Stay Of Termination Proceedings: Delinquent accounts shall be subject to termination through the process established in title 3, chapter 3.07 of this Code. Because billing is made for a period of one month in arrears, any account subject to termination proceedings shall be accelerated such that, before termination proceedings are discontinued, the portion (pro-rated by the number of days in the month as of the date the payment is received divided by the number of total days in the month) of the current month's bill (the month during which a payment is received) shall be due and owing before the account is removed from termination proceedings (i.e., the customer, owners or any resident must pay the back due amounts, any amounts due on the last issued bill which may not have yet become delinquent, and the pro-rated amount due for the month during which payment is made as of the date of the payment).
C. Reconnection Of Sewer: All disconnections shall be conducted during normal business hours. When a disconnection of the sewer service line is accomplished by the City, the line shall not be reconnected except at the expense of the customer or user. In addition, the customer or user shall reimburse the City of the expense incurred by the City in disconnecting and reconnecting the service line prior to reconnection. Similarly, any new customer shall bear the expense of reconnecting the service line as a condition of establishing service.
D. Collection Of Delinquent Payment: If a user or customer's sewer service is terminated for nonpayment or delinquent payment, the City may attempt to collect the balance due through collection services or legal processes. All rights and remedies available to the City pursuant to State law, this chapter, and the utility service agreement shall be cumulative, and election by the City to terminate the account by disconnection shall not prevent the City from exercising all other rights and remedies it may have regarding the collection of charges and amounts due for past services. (Ord. 1180, 2018)