The schedule of charges and rates for water service shall be
as adopted annually or at any other time as determined by resolution
of the Town Board, except that, if no action is taken by the Board,
the most recently adopted schedules shall continue in effect.
All water supplied shall be charged for on the basis of the
amount registered on the meter or meters installed on the consumer's
premises with a minimum charge as established by the Town Board. Where
two or more meters supply the same premises and the consumer, the
consumer, in addition to the fixed charges for all meters, shall be
billed at the schedule of rates for a quantity of water equal to the
sum of the readings on all meters on the premises.
A charge shall be made for construction purposes during the
erection of any dwelling or business establishments. This is only
available until the building is secure. This charge shall be fixed
by the Town Board when it adopts the schedule of charges and rates
herein provided for. For all other types of construction, water shall
be metered. A $40 turn-on/off fee is required, plus the current minimum
charge for the first quarter, a current minimum charge for any fractional
part of a quarter thereafter. Note: The Water Department is not liable
for frozen meters or services. This is the sole responsibility of
the owner and/or contractor.
The Water Department, with the approval of the Town Board, shall
determine the charges and rates in special cases to cover unusual
conditions or types of service not contemplated in these rules and
regulations or in the rates and charges set by the Town Board for
regular service. No consumer will be allowed to supply water to other
persons or premises, and no owner or occupant shall use water from
another premises unless specific permission has been obtained in each
case from the Water Department. The Water Department has the right
to require, during a temporary period of emergency, that a consumer
allow it to connect an adjacent premises to such consumer's piping,
but in such case allowance will be made for any excess water registered
on his meter.
A $100 service charge, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, and a $180 service charge for outside of normal business hours.
The Water Department, upon the written request of a property
owner, will mail the water bills to the tenant or lessee using the
water, but the owner shall remain responsible for all charges provided
in this article, together with any penalties.
It is the responsibility of the current property owner to contact
the Water Department, a minimum of 10 days prior to the close of the
house to request a final reading to be completed. Once the reading
has been obtained, a final bill will be generated.
The Town Board may enter into a contract or contracts for the
sale of water to users not within the Elma Water District. Rates for
such use shall be specified in each such contract, provided that such
rates shall not be less than the rates established for users within
the district. In fixing such rates, the Board may consider whether
any such applicant is assessed by the Elma Water District as a property
owner within said district. Any contract for such service outside
the district shall require the party requesting such service to comply
with the provisions of this chapter.