[R.O. 2006 §705.310; Ord. No. 98.41 §32(25-32), 10-15-1998; Ord. No. 99.35 §2, 1-6-2000; Ord. No. 02.41 §1, 10-17-2002; Ord. No. 07.32 §1, 6-7-2007; Ord. No. 10.25 §2, 6-21-2010; Ord. No. 15.94 §1, 12-17-2015[1]; Ord. No. 23.09, 3-16-2023]
A. 
It is determined to be necessary and conducive of the public health, safety, welfare and convenience of the City to collect charges from all customers who use and/or are connected to the public water system. The proceeds of such charges so derived will be used for the purpose of operating, maintaining, retiring the debt, improvements and extensions for such water system. The water user charge shall be the monthly minimum rate defined in Subsection (1) below plus the volumetric rate defined in Subsection (2) below.
1. 
Monthly minimum rate. The monthly minimum rate includes 0-1,000 gallons of water consumption and is applicable to all residential, commercial or industrial users of the City's water system. The monthly minimum rates are scheduled as follows:
Effective May 1, 2023
Meter Size
In-City
Out-Of-City
5/8 inch
$22.73
$98.00
1 inch
$31.35
$136.67
1 1/2 inch
$39.94
$175.35
2 inch
$63.60
$281.67
3 inch
$237.96
$1,064.68
4 inch
$302.36
$1,354.68
6 inch
$366.90
$1,644.68
2. 
Volumetric rate. The volumetric rate is charged per one thousand (1,000) gallons of water consumption in excess of the first one thousand (1,000) gallons included in the monthly minimum rate. The volumetric rates are scheduled as follows:
Effective May 1, 2023
Per 1,000 gallons
$1.34
3. 
Multi-commercial (office/retail complexes, etc.) and multi-residential (apartment complexes, condominium buildings, etc.) properties not individually metered by unit shall be billed the monthly minimum rate per month per unit equal to the equivalent meter size based on each unit's use as determined by the City Administrator or his/her designee plus the volumetric rate at the per one thousand (1,000) gallon rate based on water consumption in excess of the first one thousand (1,000) gallons per unit.
4. 
Non-metered water.
a. 
Customers who have an inactive or unmetered water service connection shall be billed the monthly minimum rate per month based on the meter size selected at sign up.
b. 
Multi-commercial (office/retail complexes, etc.) and multi-residential (apartment complexes, condominium buildings, etc.) customers who have an inactive or unmetered water service connection shall be billed the monthly minimum rate per month per unit equal to the equivalent meter size based on the defined class of each unit to be determined by the City Administrator or his/her designee.
c. 
Bulk water. Water service requests for bulk water shall be billed a minimum rate equal to the 5/8-inch meter rate, plus the volumetric rate based on consumption at the per one thousand (1,000) gallon rate, plus the actual labor, materials and equipment cost for the delivery and dispensing of the water.
d. 
Temporary metered water. Service requests for temporary metered water service shall be billed the monthly minimum rate based on the temporary meter installed, the monthly volumetric rate based on consumption plus the actual labor, materials and equipment cost for setting the meter.
e. 
Upon water activation, charges shall be assessed pursuant to Chapter 705 as then enforced at the time of activation.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Ord. No. 15.94 also changed the title of this Section from “Rate Schedule” to “Rates and Charges.”
[R.O. 2006 §705.320; Ord. No. 98.41 §33(25-33), 10-15-1998; Ord. No. 10.25 §3, 6-18-2010; Ord. No. 14.52 §2, 10-23-2014]
A. 
Meter fees shall be paid by the applicant for each water connection.
B. 
The fee includes cost of materials and labor provided by the City which includes the meter and meter setting. The applicant shall perform all work, including excavation, backfill, restoration, and installation of the building service line.
C. 
Meter fees are based on the actual cost of the meter.
[R.O. 2006 §705.330; Ord. No. 98.41 §34(25-34), 10-15-1998; Ord. No. 02.30 §1, 7-18-2002; Ord. No. 10.25 §4, 6-21-2010]
A. 
There is hereby established a water impact fee as a one-time developmental charge to offset the costs of water facilities needed to accommodate the increase in demand generated by new connections. Revenues generated by these fees may be used only for capital renewals or extensions of the water system, including payment of principal and interest on bonds for water improvements.
B. 
When applying for a building permit, the owner of any new house, building or property constructed after the adoption of this Section which is used for residential or commercial occupancy, employment, recreation or any other purposes and whose property line is located within three hundred (300) feet of a City public water main shall pay a water impact fee as set forth in Subsection (C) below.
C. 
The Impact Fee Schedule is as follows:
Per Meter Size Fee
Meter Size
In-City
Out-Of-City
5/8 inch
$1,150.00
$2,043.55
1 inch
$2,875.00
$5,108.88
1½ inch
$5,750.00
$10,217.75
2 inch
$9,200.00
$16,348.40
3 inch
$18,400.00
$32,696.80
4 inch
$57,500.00
$102,177.50
6 inch
$143,750.00
$255,443.75
Multi-family residential — per unit fee.
Unit Size
In-City
Out-Of-City
3 plus bedrooms
$1,006.25
$1,788.11
2 bedrooms
$862.50
$1,532.66
1 bedroom
$718.75
$1,277.22
D. 
All existing connections to private water systems applying for connection to the public water system whose property line is located within three hundred (300) feet of a City public water main constructed or under construction shall pay a water tap impact payable except as provided for in Section 705.080(B)(1) prior to issuance of the occupancy permit.
E. 
Flows for facilities for customer types not included in the above table shall be determined by the City and approved by the Board of Aldermen.
F. 
Upgrades. If a meter is upgraded from a smaller to a larger size, the customer will be responsible for paying the difference between the two (2) impact fees.
[R.O. 2006 §705.340; Ord. No. 98.41 §35(25-35), 10-15-1998; Ord. No. 04.29 §1, 10-26-2004]
The customer charge system, as established by this Article, shall generate adequate annual revenues which shall be devoted to the following:
First, the payment of the expenses of operating and maintaining such systems;
Second, the payment of any and all bonds or other obligations payable from such revenues;
Third, the establishment of a proper depreciation reserve for the benefit of such system;
Fourth, the fulfillment of any covenants or agreements contained in any ordinance which may have authorized outstanding revenue bonds issued for the benefit of such system; and
Fifth, the payment of the cost of improvements and extensions to such system.
[R.O. 2006 §705.350; Ord. No. 98.41 §36(25-36), 10-15-1998; Ord. No. 02.41 §2, 10-17-2002]
A. 
That portion of the total customer charge collected which is designated for operation and maintenance, including replacement purposes, as established in Section 705.300, shall be deposited in a separate non-lapsing fund known as the Combined Waterworks and Sewerage Fund as follows:
1. 
An account designated for the specific purpose of defraying operation and maintenance costs.
2. 
An account designated for the specific purpose of ensuring replacement needs over the useful life of the combined system (replacement account). Deposits in the replacement account shall be made at least annually from the operation, maintenance and replacement revenue in the amount of one hundred eighty-seven thousand dollars ($187,000.00).
[R.O. 2006 §705.360; Ord. No. 98.41 §37(25-37), 10-15-1998]
Fiscal year-end balances in the operation and maintenance account and the replacement account shall be carried over to the same accounts in the subsequent fiscal year, and shall be used for no other purposes than those designated for these accounts. Monies which have been transferred from other sources to meet temporary shortages in the operation, maintenance and replacement fund shall be returned to their respective accounts upon appropriate adjustment of the customer charge rates for operation, maintenance and replacement. The customer charge rate shall be adjusted such that the transferred monies will be returned to their respective accounts within the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the monies were borrowed.
[R.O. 2006 §705.370; Ord. No. 98.41 §38(25-38), 10-15-1998; Ord. No. 00.43 §1, 10-19-2000; Ord. No. 07.75 §1, 12-20-2007; Ord. No. 11.36 §1, 7-8-2011]
A. 
Generally. All customers shall be billed monthly. Payments are due when the billings are made. Any payment not received within fifteen (15) days after the billing is made shall be delinquent.
B. 
Current Address. Users are responsible for furnishing the City with their current mailing address. Failure to make such notification in writing will not be considered an excuse for non-payment nor permit an extension of the date when the account will be considered delinquent.
C. 
Condominiums. Water charge for condominiums will be billed to the condominium management company or association or otherwise agreed-upon billing authority which shall be responsible for full payment of the bill when due.
D. 
Facilities Under Common Ownership. Water charges for facilities under common ownership will be billed to the owner of the facilities as a combined bill.
E. 
Late Payment/Discontinuance Of Service.
1. 
Late fee. Interest shall be added in the amount of one and one-half percent (1.5%) to any unpaid balance per month.
2. 
Discontinuance of service. When any water bill remains unpaid for forty-five (45) days from the date of billing, service shall be disconnected until such bill is paid. A reconnection fee shall be paid for reconnection to the City's system.
a. 
Reconnection fees.
(1) 
Water service reconnection charge. If water service is discontinued, for reconnection to the system the customer shall pay the total balance due for all utility services provided (water and sewer, if applicable) prior to disconnection and a reconnection charge. The reconnection charge includes a minimum reconnection charge of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) plus the minimum monthly billing for all utility services provided (water and sewer, if applicable) for each month of disconnection, with a maximum of twelve (12) months, in addition to the minimum reconnection charge, calculated on a pro rata basis based on the monthly billing cycle.
(2) 
Unique infrastructure. In the event that actual disconnection costs to the City exceed the minimum reconnection charge due by the customer, due to the unique infrastructure associated with the service disconnection, the customer may be charged the actual costs of disconnection in excess of the minimum reconnection charge for the service being disconnected.
b. 
Reconnection of service.
(1) 
During office hours. The Department of Public Works shall reconnect service during normal office hours once satisfied delinquent balances and reconnection fees have been verified by the office of the City Treasurer. Delinquent balances and reconnection fees satisfied before 12:00 P.M. on a regular business day will constitute an afternoon reconnection on the same day, during normal office hours, of the Department of Public Works. Delinquent balances and reconnection fees satisfied after 12:00 P.M. on a regular business day will constitute reconnection the next regular business day, during normal office hours, of the Department of Public Works.
(2) 
After hours/weekends. Reconnections of service after hours and/or on weekends may be available for an additional charge of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per reconnection of the service. After hours/weekend reconnection charges are in addition to the applicable reconnection charges applied.
3. 
Payment plan. The City Administrator or his/her designee may enter into periodic payment arrangements for the reconnection fee not to exceed one (1) year in duration.
F. 
Other. If a customer is disconnected from the system and had previously received a waiver of connection fees, all fees will be due when and if they reconnect to the water system.
[R.O. 2006 §705.390; Ord. No. 98.41 §40(25-40), 10-15-1998; Ord. No. 10.25 §5, 6-21-2010]
The City Administrator or his/her designee shall submit recommended rate changes to the Board of Aldermen for further action. The City shall ensure that the system generates adequate revenues to pay the costs of operation and maintenance including replacement and retirement of debt and that the system continues to provide for the proportional distribution of operation and maintenance including replacement costs among users.