[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have these prescribed
meanings:
BULK WATER CUSTOMER
Any customer that receives water in predetermined quantities,
delivered to a mobile tank from a fire hydrant.
CITY
The City of Strafford, Missouri, together with its officers,
agents and employees.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
That person officially designated by the Board of Aldermen
as the Administrator of the City of Strafford.
CITY ENGINEER
That person officially designated by the Board of Aldermen
as engineer for the City of Strafford.
CONSTRUCTION SITE CONTRACTOR
A customer, who is a construction contractor, engaged in
the construction of residential or commercial buildings or facilities,
who desires water service for the purpose of supporting construction
activities.
CUSTOMER
Also includes the terms "he," "him" or "his," where applicable
in context shall include and refer to any person, persons, firm, agency
or corporation, irrespective of gender, who may be an applicant for
water services.
CUSTOMER SERVICE PIPE
That portion of the service pipe between the point of connection
and the structures on the customer's premises to be supplied.
INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMER
Any customer whose primary business is the creation, fabrication
or manufacturing of a product.
INITIAL SERVICE CONNECTION CHARGE
That charge which is applicable to an application for a new
street service connection or an application for an enlargement of
an existing street service connection.
LATERAL
That portion of the street service connection running from
the main under the street to supply water to more than one (1) individual
customer.
MAIN
A supply pipe owned and maintained by the City to which street
service connections are attached to supply water to one (1) or more
customers.
METER
A mechanical device or devices to measure and record the
quantity of water supplied to the customer.
NOTICE TO CITY
Written notice addressed: City Administrator, City of Strafford,
Strafford, Missouri, and deposited in the United States mail, postage
prepaid.
POINT OF CONNECTION
The point at which a street service connection or private
fire connection is connected to a customer service pipe or private
fire protection system. Such point of connection shall be at the customer's
property line, unless otherwise provided for.
PREMISES
A building or a group of buildings on a parcel of land under
a single ownership.
PRIVATE FIRE CONNECTION
A pipe with appurtenances used to conduct water from a main
to the point of connection to a customer's private fire protection
system.
PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR
That person designated by the City Administrator as the supervisor
of the Public Works Department who is responsible for the supervision
of the operations and maintenance of the water and sewer system.
REALTOR
A licensed professional engaged in the business of buying
or selling real property for others.
RECONNECTION CHARGE
That charge applicable to the turn on of water service at
a customer's premises where service has been discontinued due to non-payment
of bills.
SEASONAL SERVICE
One which is used to supply water to customers who are primarily
seasonal in operation or who require increased water service for equipment
or processes operated only for part of the year.
STANDBY SERVICE
One which is connected in an emergency to supply water to
a customer normally having an independent supply.
STREET SERVICE CONNECTION
A pipe with appurtenances used to conduct water from the
main to the point of connection to the customer's service pipe.
STUB
That portion of the street service connection attached to
a main or lateral through which an individual customer is served.
UTILITY SERVICE
Water, sewer and/or trash service provided to the customer
by the City.
YEARLY SERVICE
One which is used to supply water to customers who use said
supply during twelve (12) months of each year.
B. Nothing in these rules and regulations shall be construed to impose
or place upon the City or upon any agent, servant or employee of said
City any obligation, responsibilities or duty to inspect, maintain
and/or repair any water piping, apparatus, appliance or equipment
(excepting only such metering facilities, if any, owned by the City
may be installed on the customer's premises) on the customer's side
of the point of connection.
C. No agent, employee or representative of the City shall have any right
or authority to make any promise, commitment or agreement not expressly
authorized by these rules and regulations.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015; Ord.
No. 795 §1, 2-21-2017]
A. All applicants for service shall be subject to all rules and regulations
heretofore and hereafter adopted or promulgated by the City and to
all applicable ordinances or provisions thereof of the City of Strafford,
Missouri, which may now or hereafter be in force.
B. All applicants for new service shall make application in advance
at the time of planning or start of construction. If the property
to be served is not within the City limits, a consent to annex form
must also be signed by the property owner(s).
C. The City will not supply permanent service until:
1.
The customer's application for service shall have been approved
by the City;
2.
All necessary permits shall have been obtained by the customer;
3.
Inspection has been approved as hereinafter set forth; and
4.
The City shall find it practicable to render such service.
D. All customers desiring service shall make application for service.
All applications for service shall be made in the true name of the
customer actually to receive and use such service, unless otherwise
permitted by the City. The applicant or applicant's agent must appear
in person at City Hall presenting a photographic identification document
and a lease, closing statement or deed to the property at which service
is desired. The use of a fictitious name by the prospective customer
shall be sufficient reason for refusal or termination of service.
E. Any change in the identity of the customer of record at the premises
shall require a new application, and the City may discontinue the
service until such new application has been made and accepted by the
City.
F. A water customer must be at the location or have an authorized representative
at the location at the time the water is connected and/or turned on.
G. Residential and commercial landlords are required to register their
rental properties with the City regardless if they desire service
as a customer.
H. In
the event a renter or tenant applies for service at a location which
has a history of excessive water consumption, indicative of a leak
on the customer side of the water meter, application for service shall
be denied until the landlord or property owner provides evidence to
the City that such leak has been repaired and the system is tested
to the satisfaction of the City that such leak has been repaired.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. The City shall require that any utility customer desiring service
render a deposit to the City. The amount of deposit shall be as follows:
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Deposits for Utility Customers
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Inside City Limits
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Amount of Deposit
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Residential renters
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$75.00 sewer
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$75.00 water
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$15.00 trash
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Residential owners
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$50.00 sewer
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$50.00 water
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|
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$15.00 trash
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Commercial/industrial customer
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$200.00
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Residential/commercial landlord
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$50.00 per residential unit
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Construction site contractor
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$50.00 per site
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Temporary connection (metered hydrant)
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$50.00
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Outside City Limits
|
|
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Customers outside the City limits shall pay an additional 15%
of the above listed amounts.
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B. Customers may move to another address within the City limits without
being required to pay additional deposits if all bills for utility
service rendered have been promptly paid.
C. Such deposit, as outlined above, shall be applied to any outstanding
balance due at the termination of utility service. After all charges
that may be due and payable by the customer have been paid, any remaining
balance of the deposit will be refunded.
D. The City shall receive all such deposits as authorized in Subsection
(A) and place into an interest-bearing account. All interest earned on any such deposits shall be deposited in the City's Sewer and Water Fund at periodic intervals. The interest earned shall not be credited against the customer's account balance nor paid when any deposit is refunded.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. All bills for utility service shall be due and payable to the City
of Strafford. If any customer shall fail to pay its bill within fifteen
(15) days after the date of rendition thereof, an additional charge
of ten percent (10%) thereof shall be added thereto. If any such bill
remains unpaid for a period of twenty-five (25) days after date of
rendition thereof, the customer shall not be entitled to receive water
service to such premises, may be disconnected and shall not be reconnected
until all requirements are met as stated in this Article and the customer
has paid a reconnection charge of twenty dollars ($20.00). If any
such bill remains unpaid by the end of the month of which it is rendered,
the customer's utility account shall be terminated and any deposits
applied to the unpaid balance. Reestablishment of the customer's utility
account will require a new application and applicable deposits.
B. Residential and commercial landlords who have established utility
accounts and have submitted the required deposit may enter into an
automatic connection agreement with the City. Such automatic connection
agreement will allow for the water service to remain on after a tenant's
account has been terminated. The landlord entering into such automatic
connection agreement will be responsible for the utility billing,
including minimum charges, during this period between tenants.
C. Any customer who has received utility service shall be held liable
for all utility service, court costs and attorney fees necessary in
its collection furnished to such premises until such time as the customer
properly notifies the City to discontinue the service for his/her
account.
D. In the event a customer makes application for service for premises
where an active utility account exists, the following procedure applies:
1.
The customer making application shall present a current lease,
closing statement or deed to the property where service is requested.
2.
The City will attempt to contact the current customer, using
addresses or telephone numbers on file for the customer's account,
notifying them that another customer is requesting service for the
premises.
3.
If the current customer responds that they do not desire to
terminate service, the application of the customer applying for service
will be denied.
4.
If the City is unable to make contact with the current customer,
the current customer's utility account shall be terminated and any
deposits applied to the unpaid balance.
5.
The customer's application will be processed according to Section
700.020.
E. All such fees, penalties, costs and charges may be waived by the
City Administrator for good cause shown.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
If an apartment trailer park, RV park or other business is individually
metered and the tenant pays the utility, then it will be considered
a residential unit. If the utilities are paid by the owner of the
property or owner's agent, then it will be considered commercial.
Commercial customers will be required to pay State sales taxes and
commercial rates for the service, whereas the residential customers
will not.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015; Ord. No. 775 §1, 7-18-2016; Ord. No. 832, 11-19-2018]
A. A separate metered street service connection will be required for
each single-family dwelling and for each unit of a duplex, triplex
or quadplex, where the units are separated by a solid vertical partition
wall, breezeway or carport.
B. Each building in all multiunit housing complex may have a separate
metered street service connection to serve each building exclusively
and the owner or owner’s agent is responsible for payment of
the water bill, and it is not prorated among the occupants.
C. A commercial building with more than (1) occupant, i.e., office buildings,
stores, shops, etc., may be served with one (1) metered street service
connection, and the owner or owner’s agent is responsible for
payment of the water bill, and it is not prorated among the occupants.
D. A building or group of buildings used for industrial purposes, under
one (1) ownership and occupied by a single firm, may be served by
a single metered street service connection.
E. Hotels, motels, trailer parks, RV parks and institutional buildings
located on single premises may, at the discretion of the City, be
served by a single metered street service connection.
F. Residential or commercial irrigation systems may be served by an
additional metered street service connection which will be exempt
from sewer charges.
G. Private fire connections shall not be metered and only used for fire
protection of the premises.
H. A substitute meter may be installed in place of the regular meter
by request of any customer whose sewer calculation is not established
by the three-month average, for the purpose of filling a swimming
pool. Such substitute meter would be installed for up to three (3)
days to allow for pool filling. Water for this period will be billed
at bulk water rate with no sewer charge.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. Authorization To Provide. The City is authorized
to provide water and/or sewer service to customers on the rates, terms
and conditions as set forth in this Section and the regulations promulgated
from time to time by the Board of Aldermen by ordinance or resolution.
B. Application — Investigation — Review - Action.
1.
Application. Any new customer (residential,
commercial or industrial) desiring City water and/or sewer service
must make written application to the City. Said application should
state:
a.
The name of the customer or authorized agent if the customer
is not an individual.
b.
The physical address of the property for which service is requested.
c.
Whether water service, sewer service or both services are requested.
d.
The estimated water requirements, if applicable.
e.
The estimated sewage generated, if applicable.
f.
If sewer service is requested for an industrial customer, the
nature of the discharge to be put into the sewer system.
g.
If sewer service is requested for an industrial customer, a
statement that the City of Springfield has approved the sewer hookup
and proof of such approval.
2.
Investigation. Upon receipt of the proper application,
the City Administrator may determine the need for a water/sewer feasibility
investigation to be performed by the City or its agent. Said investigation
shall include, but is not limited to, an analysis of the following
items:
a.
The location and size and capacity of the lines closest to the
proposed service site.
b.
Water and sewer main extension requirements.
c.
The likelihood of additional customers requesting service from
the same lines.
d.
The effect of hookup on existing customers, if any.
e.
The cost of additional maintenance required on any existing
facility as a result of the hookup.
f.
The potential effect on the City's ability to provide the required
volume of water and/or sewer capabilities.
g.
The location of any required easements and the name and address
of any fee owners of such property.
h.
After reviewing the investigation report, the City Administrator
shall then consider said application and render a decision as to whether
to approve or reject the application.
3.
Compliance. Any approval granted is specifically contingent upon the applicant's compliance with the terms and conditions of Subsection
(C).
C. Plan For Establishment Of Service — Approval.
1.
Upon approval of the application and within sixty (60) days
of same, the applicant shall submit to the City Administrator a plan
for the establishment of service which shall identify:
a.
Easements required and plans for acquiring same;
b.
Construction requirements for water main extension, equipment
and any other improvements;
c.
Names and references for any contractor proposed to do any work
on the project;
d.
Construction plans for lines and necessary equipment; approved
public works construction plans for the extension of water and sewer
mains.
e.
The anticipated completion dates.
f.
If the applicant's property is outside the City limits of the
City of Strafford, the applicant shall execute an irrevocable consent
of annexation, covering the property to which service extends. Said
consent shall run with the land.
2.
The Board of Aldermen shall either reject or approve the plan
within forty-five (45) days of receipt of same.
3.
The City Administrator shall then submit said plan to the City
Engineer for review. All fees associated with such review shall be
paid by the applicant.
4.
Prior to any construction required for service, the applicant
shall provide recorded easements in favor of the City for all properties
through which water and sewer lines extend and deeds of dedication
for all multiuser water and sewer lines, equipment and necessary improvements
constructed in order to hook up to the City water or sewer system.
However, lateral lines hooking individual properties to sewer and/or
water mains shall not be deeded to the City nor shall the City accept
any responsibility for maintaining same.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. New Service Connections. All new service connections
for water. The water service connection fee includes the purchase,
installation and maintenance of the water meter. The service saddle,
corporation stop, curb stop, meter pit, meter setter, composite lid
and all other piping, fittings and appurtenances must be constructed
by the property owner, developer, contractor, etc., prior to the water
service connection. If this infrastructure has not been constructed,
a water meter cannot be installed.
[Ord. No. 956, 10-3-2022]
Water Service Connection Charge
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Meter Size
(inches)
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Strafford
|
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5/8
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$600.00
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1
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$800.00
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2
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$1,700.00
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>2
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Time and material cost
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B. Water Rates.
[Ord. No. 1006, 8-7-2023]
1.
All water rates for the users of the water system of the City of Strafford shall be billed based on Section
805.100(D), Water Rates and Fees, as amended from time to time by the Board of Aldermen.
2.
Bulk water sales shall be billed based on Section
805.100(D), Water Rates and Fees, as amended from time to time by the Board of Aldermen. Backflow prevention as specified in Section
700.100 shall be provided by the bulk water customer and demonstrated to the Public Works Supervisor or his/her designee.
C. Existing Service Connections.
1.
Application for enlargement. Applications for the enlargement of an existing service connection shall be subject to the payment of the service connection charge for such larger, size service connection set forth in Subsection
(A), subject to evaluation of the City's water and sewer systems' ability to provide the increased service.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
The City will not allow its mains or services to be connected
on any premises with any customer pipe or piping which is connected
with any other source of water supply, nor will it allow its mains
or service pipes to be in any way connected to any vat, tank or other
apparatus which contains or may contain liquid or chemicals. The City
requires protection from Class 1 and Class II Backflow Hazards as
defined in 10CSR60-11.010, which is incorporated by reference. The
City will refuse to give service to any premises having such connections
until any and all such existing conditions are terminated.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
Employees of the City shall have the right to enter upon the
premises of any water customer for the purpose of reading meters,
examining, testing, changing and/or moving any water equipment, meters,
apparatus and/or piping of the City or measuring the customer's water
demand.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. The City shall have no duty, obligation or responsibility with respect
to water piping, appliances, equipment or apparatus on the premises
of any water customer, other than to provide a water meter and a street
service connection from the distribution system of the City to the
point of connection.
B. The customer shall notify the City immediately of any change or changes
in connected load or in water equipment on the customer's premises
which might affect water service to such customer or to any other
water customer of the City; and the City shall have no duty, obligation
or responsibility arising out of or resulting from the customer's
failure to so notify the City.
C. The City shall not be liable for any injury, damage or loss resulting
from the use of water on the customer's premises or from the presence,
location, maintenance or use of any water piping, fixtures or equipment
on the customer's premises.
D. If, for the purpose of making repairs, extensions or connections
or for any other reason beyond the control of the City, it becomes
necessary to shut off water in mains, the City will not be responsible
for any damage occasioned by such shutoff. The City will not be responsible
for damages caused by turbid water which may be occasioned by cleaning
of pipes, reservoirs or standpipes or the opening or closing of any
gates or hydrants or any other cause which is not the result of negligence
on the part of the City.
E. In order to maintain proper and sufficient pressures in the distribution
system for fire protection and other purposes, the City reserves the
right at all times to determine, limit and regulate, in a reasonable
and non-discriminating manner, the maximum amounts of water a customer
may use.
F. Nothing shall be attached or fastened to or placed upon any meter,
fixture or equipment of the City, unless prior permission in writing
shall have been given by the City; and the City shall not be liable
for any injury, damage or loss arising out of or resulting from any
such attachment to its meters, fixtures or equipment.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. Each customer shall pay the City for all damage to or destruction
of property of the City located on or off the customer's premises
where such is caused directly or indirectly by the customer or his/her
officers, agents or employees, excepting only that resulting from
ordinary wear and tear, acts of God and acts of employees of the City.
B. Each customer shall notify the City promptly of any defect in water
piping equipment or apparatus of the City or of any existing condition
which might affect water service to the customer or might be dangerous
to person or property.
C. If any water customer has on his/her premises any water piping connection,
apparatus or device which prevents the water meter or meters on such
premises from registering or recording properly all water used or
to be used or which enables such customer to obtain or use any water
without same having been registered and/or recorded properly by a
water meter or meters of the City or if any water customer shall fail
or refuse to observe, fulfill and comply faithfully with ordinances
heretofore or hereafter passed by the City, the City shall have the
right to discontinue water service to such customer and to terminate
any contract or contracts with such customer immediately and without
notice to the customer.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. The City shall make every reasonable effort to eliminate interruption
of service and, when such interruption does occur, will endeavor to
establish service with the shortest possible delay. Whenever the service
is interrupted for the purpose of working on the distribution system
or the station equipment, all customers affected by such interruption
will be notified in advance whenever it is possible to do so.
B. The City reserves the right to shut off the water in its mains at
any time without notice for making repairs, extensions or alterations
but will so far as possible notify customers of the intent to shut
off. No claim shall be made against the City, and no person shall
be entitled to any damages by reason of the breaking of any pipe or
by reason of any other interruption of the supply of water caused
by mechanical breakdown or by other causes beyond its control.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
Whenever a customer requests the location of a water meter to
be changed, the City may make a reasonable charge in such amount as
is reasonable to cover cost incurred. No piping work on the customer's
side of the point of connection will be done by the City either before
or after moving said meter except that a spool may be installed in
place of the old meter location.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. The location of the street service connection shall be along that
frontage of the customer's property abutting the highway, street,
alley or utility easement in which the main lies or as determined
by the City.
B. The size of the street service connection shall be determined by
the City on the basis of information given in the application of the
customer.
C. The City shall not be obliged to install a street service connection
until the initial service connection charge, if applicable, has been
paid and until the customer's service pipe is installed.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
Maintenance or alteration of any street service connection shall
be done by the City. When such work is necessary for the convenience
of the customer, it will be done at the customer's expense.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. The customer's service pipe shall be furnished and installed by the
customer at his/her expense and risk. Construction methods and materials
shall comply with the International Plumbing Code as adopted by the
City. Maintenance, repair and replacement of the customer's pipe are
the responsibility of the customer.
B. The customer's service pipe shall include the connection to the street
service connection, and all liability for such connection shall be
the customer's. If the customer's service pipe is installed prior
to the installation of a street service connection or stub by the
City, the City will, at the customer's request, make the physical
connection between these pipes, but in so doing the City assumes no
liability for said connection.
C. The customer's service pipe shall be laid to the property line at
a point designated by the City before the City shall be required to
connect such service pipe with the street service connection.
D. The customer shall make all changes in the customer's service pipe
required on account of changes of grade, relocation of mains or other
causes.
E. No attachment by the customer shall be made between the meter and
the street main.
F. Any repairs or maintenance necessary on the customer's service pipe
or in any pipe or fixture in or upon the customer's premises, including
the connections to the street service connection, shall be performed
by the customer at his/her expense and risk. Such pipe and fixtures
shall be kept and maintained in good condition and free from all leaks,
and, for failure on the part of the customer to do so, the water supply
may be discontinued.
G. All customers' service pipes must have placed thereon a cutoff immediately
inside the building or foundation wall at the place of entry.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
When a water main carrying adequate pressure and capacity is
on the opposite side of the street from premises to be served, the
City may run one (1) lateral across the street to serve one (1) or
more customers.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
Temporary street service connections may be made, at the approval of the City Administrator, by placing a meter on a fire hydrant with a backflow preventer in accordance with the requirements of Section
700.090.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. All water services shall be metered.
B. All meters shall be furnished, installed, maintained and removed
by the City and shall remain its property.
C. The City shall have the right to determine on the basis of the customer's
stated flow requirements the size and type of meter to be installed
and the location of same. If flow requirements decrease subsequent
to installation and a smaller meter is required by the customer, the
cost of installing such meter shall be borne by the customer.
D. Plumbers installing new customer service pipes and plumbing in premises
shall determine from the City the proposed location of the meter.
E. When a meter is installed it shall be placed in a meter box or vault
in accordance with the specifications of the City as follows:
1.
Meters one (1) inch and smaller in yearly services shall be
installed in a meter box or tile at the expense of the City.
2.
Meters larger than two (2) inches shall be placed in a vault
and installed at the expense of the customer. Plans for such vault
will be furnished by the City.
F. All meters shall be maintained by the City at its expense insofar
as ordinary wear is concerned, but damage due to external causes arising
out of or caused by the customer's negligence or carelessness shall
be paid for by the customer. The meters shall remain the property
of the City, and the owners of the premises wherein they are located
shall be held responsible for their safekeeping and liable for any
damage thereto resulting from the carelessness of said owner, his/her
agent or tenant. The City may refuse to supply water until such damage
is paid.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. In buildings where separate street service connections are requested
for separate rooms or groups of rooms, the piping shall be so installed
and arranged that all points of connection may be located at a central
point and each customer service pipe shall be clearly marked at that
location to indicate the particular area supplied by it.
B. Customer piping systems designed to be supplied from separate meters
shall not be interconnected. No customer's piping shall be interconnected
to any private water system.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
A. The City may remove any meter for routine tests, repairs and replacement.
B. Whenever, upon test by the City, any water meter is found to have
an average error of not more than four percent (4%), such meter shall
be considered to be accurate and correct and no adjustment shall be
made in any charge or bill for service prior to the date of such test.
If, upon test by the City, any water meter is found to have an average
error of more than four percent (4%), such meter shall be corrected
or replaced at the option of the City, and an appropriate correction
or charge in keeping with the percentage of error found upon the test
of such meter shall be made in the bills or charges for water service
measured through said meter during a period of not more than sixty
(60) days prior to the date of such test.
C. If it be found that during any period of time a water meter has failed
to register, the customer served through said meter shall be billed
by the City and shall pay to the City a charge for water delivered
during such period of time, which shall be estimated and computed
by the City on the basis of:
1.
The water accurately measured during the period of thirty (30)
days preceding or succeeding the time when such meter was discovered
to have failed to register or before the same was found to be in error;
and
2.
Any and all other available information pertaining to proper
determination of the customer's usage and load.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
No person shall disconnect or remove any meter without the consent
of the City. Penalties provided by law for any such action will be
rigidly enforced.
[Ord. No. 742 §1, 3-16-2015]
No unauthorized person shall, without written consent of the
City, open any fire hydrant except for the legitimate purpose of extinguishment
of fire.
[Ord. No. 930, 4-18-2022]
All taxes and fees levied by units of government shall be in
addition to the rates designated herein.