(A) Establishing new service. Residential and commercial:
(1) The city requires the following information to be presented in person in order to establish new service:
(a) A completed water service application including a valid copy of the lease agreement or deed.
(b) Positive valid identification (ID). A valid photo ID such as a state-issued driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or a passport.
(c) A deposit of $65 and a service charge of $10, which can be paid with cash, check, money order, or Visa/Mastercard.
(2) For applicants that are unable to apply in person, the new service application process may be completed by facsimile (fax) or email. If applying for service via fax or email, a notarized completed water service application is required to be submitted along with copies of all the items listed above in divisions (1)(a) through (1)(c).
(B) Generally. The city shall make the connection from the water line in the alley, street, or right-of-way to the property line and will set the meter, when required, at this point. The city shall make the connection from the sanitary sewer main in the alley, street, or right-of-way to the property line.
(1) Maintenance of private sewer service lines. The city is responsible for maintaining the functional integrity of all sewer mains and service laterals located in public rights-of- way and public utility easements. In order for the city to inspect and maintain the functional integrity of the service laterals within the public rights-of-way and public easements, it shall be the responsibility of each property owner with a new or existing sewer service connection to install a sewer clean-out at the property line. Property owners are responsible for maintaining their service lateral lines which extend from the city mains to the residence or business in a free and flowing condition.
(2) Sewage stoppage on private property. Sewer stoppages on private property shall be the responsibility of the property owner or occupant. Sewer stoppages within the service laterals located in a public right-of-way or public easement shall also be the responsibility of the property owner or occupant unless it is determined by the city that the functional integrity of the service lateral is compromised. State law prohibits the city from expending public funds or resources for repairs on private property.
(C) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
LONG TAP.
A tap to serve a structure on the opposite side of the street and/or where the utility line is located more than ten feet in the pavement shall be considered a
LONG TAP
.
SHORT TAP.
A tap to serve a structure on the same side of the street where the utility line is located no more than a maximum of ten feet in the pavement shall be considered a
SHORT TAP
.
(D) Residential and commercial water tap connection fees. The following water tap connection fees shall be due and paid to the city before any water tap or water meter is provided, installed, inspected, and activated for use by the city.
(1) Water service fees. The fee for providing water service shall be based upon the size of the meter required and shall be as follows:
Tap Size | Short | Long | |||
Meter | Without Meter | With Meter | Without Meter | With Meter | *Meter Only |
Tap Size | Short | Long | |||
Meter | Without Meter | With Meter | Without Meter | With Meter | *Meter Only |
” | N/A | $680 | N/A | $800+ | $390 |
1" | N/A | $915 | N/A | $1040+ | $480 |
1” | N/A | $1545 | N/A | $1665+ | $870 |
2" | N/A | $1710 | $1830+ | $1065 | |
Larger than 2" | $1000 | 4850 | $1200 | $1200++ | Estimated |
NOTES TO TABLE: + Add the boring fee and/or, if the connection is on a state right-of-way: for meter sizes 5/8 inch through 2 inches, add $200 to connection fee schedule; for meters larger than 2 inches, add $350 to the connection fee schedule ++ Current market cost plus boring cost plus $500 | |||||
(2) Fire main connections. A connection for a fire main shall be a minimum of six inches.
(3) Meter only installation charge. There is a nonrefundable charge for installing a meter where a tap already exists or for reinstallation following termination of service.
(4) Rates outside city. Water connection fees outside the corporate limits of the city shall be double the rates stated in division (D).
(5) Vaults. The purchase, installation, and any related expenses for vault(s) which may be required are strictly the responsibility of the property owner/developer.
(6) Boring fees. If a bore is required, a $35 per foot of right-of-way width boring fee will be required up to a two-inch service lead. Service leads larger than two inches will be $70 per foot of right-of-way width.
(7) Individual meters. Each single-family residence shall be served by an individual water meter. Multifamily units, such as apartments, duplexes, condominiums, townhouses, and manufactured/mobile home parks and commercial complexes which house two or more businesses shall have either a separate water meter for each dwelling or business or a separate water meter of not more than two inches for each building in the complex with a maximum of 12 units per meter in any one given building.
(8) Compound meters.
(a) A COMPOUND METER
is defined as any water metering device or combination of water metering devices assembled to form a single mechanism designed for the purpose of measuring both high and low flows, whether collectively registered for both high and low flow volumes indicating a singular totalized and low flow volumes to be combined for determining total flow through the device.
(b) Compound meters are not permissible in the city with the exception of certain large volume commercial or industrial users, with each instance being reviewed by the City Director of Public Works and with permission granted on a case-by-case basis provided there is no other means for effectively metering water usage.
(9) Location of meters. All city-owned meters shall be placed on the right-of-way of a public street or alley, or in a dedicated easement sufficient to provide access up to and including a minimum 10-foot by 10-foot easement around the meters or meter bank(s), as approved by the City Director of Public Works or City Building Official.
(10) Meter testing. Customers requesting their meter to be flow tested shall not be charged and the customer’s bill shall be adjusted accordingly if the meter tests inaccurate. However, if the meter is found to be accurate, a service fee sufficient to cover the cost of the utility employee’s time for replacing and testing the meter will be assessed to the customer on the following month’s water utility bill. For meters larger than two inches in diameter, the cost for testing the meter shall first be quoted to the customer and then assessed to the customer on the customer’s monthly water utility bill if the meter is found to be accurate. If the meter is found to be inaccurate, the city will bear the cost for having the meter tested and the customer’s bill will be adjusted accordingly.
(E) Residential and commercial sanitary sewer tap connection fees. The following sanitary sewer tap connection fee shall be due and paid to the city before any sewer tap or sewer connection is provided, installed, inspected, and activated into the city’s wastewater collection system.
(1) The connection fee for providing water service shall be based upon the size of the sewer connection required and shall be as follows:
Connection | Short* | Long* |
For a four-inch connection | $695 | $800** |
For a six-inch connection | $800 | $910** |
For an eight-inch connection | $910 | $1015** |
NOTES TO TABLE: * If a manhole is required, add $2,000 ** Add the boring fee and/or if the connection is on a state right-of-way add $350 to connection fee schedule | ||
(2) If a bore is required, a $70 per foot of right-of-way width boring fee will be required up to a six-inch service lead. For an eight-inch lead, a $75 per foot of right-of-way width boring fee will be charged.
(3) Sanitary sewer connection fees outside the corporate limits of the city shall be double the rates stated herein.
(F) Effective date. The effective date of this section shall be July 1, 2022.
(Ord. 08-0520A, passed 5-20-2008; Ord. 11-1220D, passed 12-20-2011; Ord. 13-0319B, passed 3-19-2013; Ord. 13-1217, passed 12-17-2013; Ord. 17-1017A, passed 10-17-2017; Ord. 22-0621, passed 6-21-2022)