(A) Each applicant for water service shall pay a nonrefundable service fee at the time of making such application, the sum of $60 for both residential and commercial service. No water service shall be afforded until such payment is made and all outstanding bills on the property address and outstanding bills for anyone listed on the occupancy permit, for the property, have been paid in full.
(1) Generally. The owner of a premises may request that service be continued until reletting of the premises. The owner shall agree to be responsible for a $15 meter “read and leave on” plus water charges, and service will be continued to the premises without the necessity of paying the $60 service fee.
(2) Transfer fee. A water customer may transfer one water service to another water service, both within the city limits of Wood River, for payment of all current bills and payment of a transfer fee of $15. Any such water customer who currently has a water deposit shall transfer the deposit to the new water service. (A resident who has previously paid a $60 water service fee, shall pay only the $15 transfer fee.)
(3) Turn on fee. There shall be a fee of $15 for turn on of any water service except for emergency repair.
(B) All service charges made pursuant hereto shall be deposited by the City Treasurer in a city account.
(C) Customers making deposit prior to October 15, 1990: upon permanent discontinuance of transfer of service to the applicant/customer, the Water Division shall certify to the City Treasurer the status of the water account of the applicant/customer. In the event such certification discloses that the account is paid in full to the date of termination of service, the City Treasurer shall issue a draft upon the Water Meter Deposit Fund in an amount equal to the original deposit of the applicant, without interest, and shall deliver same to the applicant/customer.
(D) Customers obtaining or transferring water service after October 15, 1990: upon permanent discontinuance of water service or transfer, the customer must pay in full for all water used. If payment is not received within 30 days following discontinuance of water service, the account, if the City Treasurer determines, the city shall have the authority to turn the matter over to a collection agency. Whenever a bill for water service remains unpaid for 60 days, after it has been transmitted, the City Treasurer may file, with the County Recorder of Deeds, a statement of lien claim. This statement shall contain the legal description of the premises served, the amount of the unpaid bills, and a notice that the city claims a lien for this amount, as well as for all charges subsequent to the period covered by the bill. If the user whose bill is unpaid, is not the owner of the premises, then the City Treasurer has notice that the notice shall be transmitted to the owner of the premises. If his or her address is known to the City Treasurer, whenever such bill remains unpaid for a period of 30 days after it has been transmitted, the failure of the City Treasurer to transmit such notice or failure of the owner to receive such notice shall not affect the right to foreclosure the lien for unpaid bills. The City Treasurer has the right and authority to both file a lien and turn the account over to collection agency.
(E) Water service reconnection will be offered after hours on any day preceding a non-business day. There will be a $150 call out fee for such service that must be paid in full in cash before reconnection. If the resident, owner, occupant or applicant is found to owe any outstanding balance to the city the water will be disconnected the next business day until all outstanding balances and applicable fees have been paid.
(F) Any applications for a license or permit required by the city may, at the city’s discretion, deny the same for any of the following reasons: The resident, owner, occupant, or applicant:
(1) Owes fees to the city of any kind;
(2) Fails to obtain any permit or license required by the city;
(3) Owes any costs of abatement to the city;
(4) Owes any outstanding balance of any type owed to the city; and
(5) Has any city liens owed by applicant on the applicant’s real estate.
(Prior Code, § 52.21) (Ord. 60-1, passed 12-19-1960; Ord. 67-8, passed 11-6-1967; Ord. 70-15, passed 10-6-1970; Ord. 82-17, passed 5-3-1982; Ord. 90-11, passed 9-17-1990; Ord. 90-16, passed 11-5-1990; Ord. 93-16, passed 9-7-1993; Ord. 13-07, passed 10-7-2013; Ord. 19-05, passed 3-04-2019; Ord. 20-11, passed 9-8-2020)