There shall be and are hereby established rates and charges for the sale of water by the city to residents and customers of the city. Until revised or amended by further action of this Council, the rates and charges shall be as set forth in this chapter, which rates and charges are hereby determined to be fair, equitable, and reasonable for the sale of water by the city for domestic and commercial purposes:
(A) Meter charge. Each customer, regardless of consumption, shall pay a monthly meter charge in accordance with the following schedule:
Meter Size | Monthly Charge |
Meter Size | Monthly Charge |
Five-eighths inch (5/8)" | $6.40 |
Five-eighths by three-quarters inch (5/8" X 3/4") | 6.40 |
One inch (1") | 14.59 |
One and one-half inch (1½") | 32.89 |
Two inch (2") | 58.34 |
Three inch (3") | 131.67 |
Four inch (4") | 234.12 |
Six inch (6") | 527.16 |
(B) Consumption charge. Each customer shall pay, in addition to the meter charge, a monthly consumption charge based upon the volume of water delivered to that customer, as follows:
Water Delivered | Monthly Charges Per 100 Cubic Feet |
For the first 1,000 cubic feet or any part thereof | $ 3.59 |
For the next 9,000 cubic feet | 3.54 |
For all over 10,000 cubic feet | 2.89 |
(C) Private fire protection. The monthly charge for private fire protection shall be as follows:
(1) The charges for hose connections and hydrants are set forth in the table below:
HOSE CONNECTIONS AND HYDRANTS | |
Size of Connection | Monthly Charge |
One and one-quarter inch (1¼") | $10.26 |
One and one-half Inch (1½") | 12.79 |
Two inch (2") | 16.88 |
Two and one-half inch (2½") | 18.50 |
Private Fire Hydrant | 34.72 |
(2) The charges for automatic sprinklers are set forth in the table below:
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS | ||
Size of Connection | Floor Space | Monthly Charge
|
Two inch (2") | 5,000 sq. ft. or less | $18.27 |
Four inch (4") | 10,000 sq. ft. or less | 31.94 |
Six inch (6") | 20,000 sq. ft. or less | 45.66 |
Additional floor space, per 1,000 square feet: $1.05 | ||
(D) Public fire protection. For the maintenance and use of each fire hydrant located outside the city limits, in Union Township, Fayette County, Ohio, and for supplying water to flush sewers, an annual charge of $319.20, payable in equal monthly installments due on or before the 15th day of the month for which the service is provided, shall be imposed upon and paid by the Township. For the maintenance and use of each fire hydrant now installed and to be continued in use in the city hereunder and for water for flushing sewers, the city shall pay to the Water Revenue Fund an annual charge of $266.28, and for each fire hydrant hereafter installed it shall pay an annual charge of $266.28, such charges to be paid in equal monthly installments on or before the 15th day of the month following the month during which the service was rendered.
(E) Administrative charge for late payments. An administrative charge for late payments of 5% of the monthly charge shall be added to all accounts still outstanding on any succeeding billing date.
(F) Dishonored checks. An administrative charge of $20 will be assessed if a check received as payment for a water bill is dishonored by the bank. At the city's option, the charge will be imposed at the time the check is returned or included on the customer's next billing.
(G) Disconnection of service. All water service to delinquent users shall be disconnected without further notice if the account is 30 days late in payment and more than $25 in arrears and after a 15-day notice of disconnect has been served on the property announcing the shut off of the service. Disconnection can also occur if the user fails to provide access to the property served, for the purpose of installing, reading or maintaining the metering systems, after being given notice and a reasonable time in which to comply with such notice. Shut off of service under these circumstances shall be immediate.
(H) Reconnection fees. A charge of $25 for reconnection during regular business hours and $75 for reconnection other than during regular business hours, shall be required for reconnecting water service that has been disconnected.
(I) Permit fees.
(1) The following schedule of water tap fees is established for new residential and commercial consumers starting in year 2009:
Water | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 |
Water | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 |
5/8 inch | $1,200 | $1,600 | $2,000 |
3/4 inch | $1,200 | $1,600 | $2,000 |
1 inch | $1,200 | $1,600 | $2,000 |
1.5 inches | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,000 |
2 inches | $3,000 | $3,750 | $4,600 |
3 inches | $4,000 | $5,000 | $6,250 |
4 inches | $5,000 | $6,250 | $7,800 |
6 inches | $6,000 | $7,500 | $9,400 |
8 inches | $10,000 | $12,500 | $15,600 |
10 inches | $12,500 | $15,600 | $19,500 |
12 inches | $15,000 | $18,750 | $23,450 |
(2) All tap fees shall be reviewed by the Finance and Service Committees every five years beginning in year 2008. All tap connections for 2008 shall remain at the old tap fee.
(J) Administrative discount for early payment. An administrative discount of 10% of the monthly charge shall be applied to all accounts which are paid on time according to the timetables of the monthly billing cycle as indicated on the bill. The water rates as presently enacted by Council in this chapter are the discounted rates. This discount shall be reflected on the monthly bills as soon as practical (due to computer prograrnrning) after the passage of these provisions. Until the implementation date, the current penalty provisions currently enacted will remain in effect.
(K) Late handling and late notice fee.
(1) A fee of 10% of the monthly charge for water shall be added to each bill 30 days following the payment due date. This charge will coincide with the mailing of turn off notices and is intended to help offset the costs of this additional handling and processing.
(2) Once the late handling fee has been assessed and the service disconnected, no additional monthly penalties will be accumulated against the water bill.
(L) There is hereby established a non-refundable $25 set up fee. This fee shall be collected from all customers when they apply for water service, sewer service, or both. If customers sign up for sewer and water service at the same time, only one fee shall be charged. The current $50 deposit charge shall be abolished and all codes and policies relating to deposit charges are hereby repealed.
(M) Lien for charges.
(1) No water or sewer disposal service shall be furnished or rendered free of charge to any customer.
(2) Current water service may be refused or discontinued to any person, whether tenant or owner, for failure to pay an unpaid charge for which he was responsible by virtue of use of service or property ownership at any previous place of residence or ownership. This rule shall in no way reduce the responsibility of a property owner for the water or sewer charge applicable for the premises owned. Should a customer who is known to have left a bill at a previous location attempt to sign up or continue utility services for a water or sewer account, the city shall require that this past responsibility be satisfied before the new service is engaged or service continued.
(3) Current water service may be refused or discontinued to any customer or premises for failure to pay an unpaid charge of an occupant thereof if there is reason to believe the customer is applying for water in an effort to avoid paying a delinquent charge of a fellow occupant.
(N) (1) All water customers with service connection within the city limits of the city shall be given a discount on the existing monthly water bill of 10%. This credit shall apply to each monthly bill in a manner approved by the State Auditor's Office. The credit amount shall automatically expire December 31, 1995.
(2) Beginning January 1, 1996 this discount amount for the calendar year shall be reported to Council and approved and adopted by Council as part of the 1996 Budget Ordinance. This discount amount shall automatically expire December 31, 1996.
(3) Beginning January 1, 1997 this discount amount for the calendar year shall be reported to Council and approved and adopted by Council as part of the 1997 Budget Ordinance. This discount amount shall automatically expire December 31, 1997.
(4) Beginning at any time in this process, but no later than January 1, 1998, this program will end and if a permanent adjustment is needed, Council will enact appropriate rates to collect needed monies without regard to discounts or surcharges.
(Ord. 43-93, passed 11-10-93; Am. Ord. 20-95, passed 12-13-95; Am. Ord. 22-95, passed 9-13-95; Am. Ord. 38-95, passed 1-10-96; Am. Ord. 8-2008, passed 6-11-08)