(A) (1) Charges for water shall be a lien upon the premises as provided by statute. Whenever a final bill for water service remains unpaid 60 days after it has been transmitted, the City Treasurer may file with the Recorder of Madison County, a statement of lien claim.
(2) This statement shall contain the legal description of the premises served, the amount of the unpaid bill and a notice that the city claims a lien for this amount as well as for all charges for water served subsequent to the period covered by the bill.
(B) If the consumer of water whose final bill is unpaid is not the owner of the premises, and the City Treasurer has notice of this, then notice shall be transmitted to the owner of the premises, if his or her address is known to the City Treasurer, whenever such bills remain unpaid for a period of 30 days after it has been transmitted.
(C) The failure of the City Treasurer to record such lien claim or to transmit such notice, or the failure of the owner to receive such notice, shall not affect the right to foreclose the lien for unpaid water bills.
(D) Whenever a final bill for services remains unpaid for 30 days, after it has been transmitted, if the City Treasurer determines, the city shall have the authority to turn the matter over to a collection agency, as well. The City Treasurer has the right and the authority to both file a lien and turn the account over to a collection agency.
(Prior Code, § 52.66) (Ord. 60-1, passed 12-19-1960; Ord. 19-05, passed 3-4-2019)