[Code 1999 §710.350; Ord. No. 443 §§1 — 2, 10-22-1992; Ord. No. 690, 12-27-2012; Ord. No. 760, 10-25-2018]
As used in this Article, the following terms shall have these prescribed meanings:
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (B.O.D.)
The quantity of dissolved oxygen required for biochemical oxidation of decomposed organic matter under aerobic conditions in a period of five (5) days at a temperature of twenty degrees Centigrade (20° C), expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/1). Such B.O.D. shall be determined as described under the heading "biochemical oxygen demand" in the Standard Methods of the Examination of Water and Wastewater (latest edition) as published jointly by the American Public Health Association, the American Waterworks Association, and the Water Pollution Control Federation, or by any other method mutually agreed upon by all parties involved.
CITY
The City of Seymour, Missouri.
COMMERCIAL USER
Any person, firm, partnership or corporation occupying any building or structure which is connected to the City sewer system, the principal use of which is for engaging in commerce or trade, having a financial profit as the primary aim. Provided, however, that schools shall be considered as a "commercial user" and churches shall be excluded from this Article.
DOMESTIC WASTES
Any wastes having a five (5) day B.O.D. concentration not in excess of two hundred fifty (250) mg/1 or a suspended solids concentration not in excess of three hundred (300) mg/1.
INDUSTRIAL USER
Any non-governmental user of the City's wastewater works that discharges wastes other than primarily domestic wastes or wastes from sanitary convenience.
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
The liquid wastes from industrial manufacturing processes, trade, or business as distinct from sanitary sewage.
RESIDENTIAL USER
Any person occupying any building or structure which is connected to the City sewer system, the principal use of which is as a place of abode for any person or persons on other than a temporary basis.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
Solids that either float on the surface of, or are in suspension in water, sewage, or other liquids, and which are removable by laboratory filtering.
TOXIC WASTES
Any waste which is deleterious to treatment plant operation or to sludge utilization, which constitutes a hazard to humans or animals, or which will create a hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant.
[Code 1999 §710.360; Ord. No. 443 §3, 10-22-1992]
A. 
The City of Seymour, Missouri, shall collect sewer service charges for the use of land and the services rendered by said sanitary sewer system from the owners or occupants of each residence, from each unit within a commercial complex, building or structure which is connected with the sanitary sewer system of the City or which discharges sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids, either directly or indirectly, into the sanitary sewer system of the City.
B. 
Except as herein otherwise provided, sewer service charges shall be based on the quantity of water used on or in the property or premises subject to such charges; shall be computed by applying the rates herein established; and shall be payable as herein provided.
[Code 1999 §710.370; Ord. No. 443 §4, 10-22-1992]
A. 
Except as otherwise herein provided, service charges shall be based on one (1) of the following:
1. 
On the basic charge established by Section 710.390 and Appendixes B and C which are on file in the office of the City Clerk, and by the quantity of water used from any source or sources of supply, as measured by a water meter or meters acceptable to the City.
2. 
On the quantity of sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids entering the sanitary sewage system of the City and measured by a sewage meter acceptable to the City.
3. 
On the quantity of water used as determined by the City or other authorized representative of the City.
4. 
On the quantity of sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids entering the sanitary sewage system of the City as determined by the City or other authorized representative of the City.
5. 
On the percentage of the metered water used entering the sanitary sewage system as determined by the City or other authorized representative of the City.
B. 
Installation Of Water Sewage Meters.
1. 
Each owner of a private well or other private water supply shall, at his/her own expense, install and maintain in continuous efficient operation a water meter acceptable to the City on such private well or other private water supply.
2. 
The City may permit the installation and maintenance of one (1) or more sewage meters or additional water meters in such a manner as to determine the quantity of water actually entering the sanitary sewage work. Such meters shall be of a type acceptable to the City and shall be installed and maintained at the expense of the owner or other party.
3. 
Where sewage meters are installed, they shall be of a type approved by the City and shall be installed and maintained in continuous efficient operation by the user at his/her own expense.
C. 
Maintenance Of Meters. Where installed, all water or sewage meters shall be maintained by the owner, at his/her expense, in continuous efficient operation at all times. The readings of any such meter which, in the opinion of the City, has not been so maintained will be disregarded and the City or its authorized representative shall determine the sewage volume delivered to the sanitary system of the City during the time covered by discredited meter readings.
[Code 1999 §710.380; Ord. No. 443 §5, 10-22-1992]
A. 
All users, other than residential users, shall be billed on the basis of all monthly water usage as determined by monthly water meter readings.
B. 
The rates and charges established by this Article shall be applied to the water consumption billed after this Article shall have been placed in effect except as herein otherwise provided. In order that there be the least sewer service charge to residential water consumers for water used to maintain lawns, gardens, flowers, shrubs, trees, etc., water usage shall be derived from water consumption recorded in periods when such activities are reduced.
C. 
Basis For Bills.
1. 
The basis of residential bills shall be the average monthly water consumption for the months of January, February, and March or the average consumption for any such months during which water was used, except as herein otherwise provided. In computing the average monthly water consumption the meter readings taken between January and March shall be used. The average monthly water consumption so computed for a residence shall be the water usage and the basis for sewer service charge billings rendered during the twelve (12) months following the meter reading date in the month of March.
2. 
In cases where a residence first becomes subject, after the meter reading date in March, to the sewage service charges established herein and no water meter readings were taken before such date, the owner or occupant of such residence shall be billed the minimum charge until a basis can be established as above provided.
3. 
Averages resulting in a fraction of one-half (½) or greater of one hundred (100) gallons shall be raised to the next whole number of one hundred (100) gallons in computing average monthly water consumption or averages of monthly water consumption.
D. 
In the event that the basis of sewage service charges for a residence is established by agreement between the City and the user, the agreement shall be reviewed annually by the City and may be so reviewed at such other times as the City in its discretion may require or permit.
E. 
Provided however, nothing herein contained shall prevent the owner or occupant of any residential premises from electing to be charged for sewage service on the basis of water used as determined by meter readings, if such owner or occupant makes application in writing to pay on this basis and agrees to pay on said basis for at least one (1) year from the date of the next billing following the date of application.
[Code 1999 §710.390; Ord. No. 443 §6, Appendix A, 10-22-1992; Ord. No. 2011-674 §1, 7-28-2011; Ord. No. 691, 12-27-2012; Ord. No. 761, 10-25-2018; Ord. No. 783, 6-16-2020]
A. 
The sewer service charge rates for operation and maintenance which shall be applied to the water usage of all residences, buildings, and structures connected with the City sanitary sewer system shall be as provided in Subsection (B).
B. 
Sections 710.390 and 710.400 of this Article provide for sewer service charges and extra charges for each residence, building and structure connected to the sewer system and discharging wastewater to the system. The following rates shall be charged based on the volume measured in gallons discharged to the system:
1. 
Operation And Maintenance Rate Schedule.
[Ord. No. 827, 6-23-2022]
a. 
Sewer service charge: $24.44 per month for 1,000 gallons or less.
b. 
Charge for use in excess of 1,000 gallons per month: $4.94 per 1,000 gallons.
2. 
Extra Charge For High Strength Waste.
a. 
B.O.D.: $0.22 per pound.
b. 
Suspended solids (S.S.): $0.24 per pound.
c. 
Toxic substances: All actual costs associated with or resulting from the discharge of this type material to the system.
d. 
Treatment facility operation and maintenance cost: All actual costs serving an individual customer associated with the operation and maintenance of any such treatment facility.
3. 
Reconnect Charge. After a customer has been disconnected from the sewer system, he/she may be allowed to again use the sewer system after all delinquent water and sewer charges have been paid in full together with a reconnect charge of sixty-five dollars ($65.00) paid to the City.
[Code 1999 §710.400; Ord. No. 443 §7, 10-22-1992]
A. 
In order that the rates and charges may be justly and equitably adjusted to the service rendered, the City shall have the right to base its charges not only on volume but also on the strength and character of sewage and wastes which it is required to treat and dispose of. The City shall have the right to measure and determine the strength and content of all sewage and wastes discharged, either directly or indirectly, into the City's sanitary sewage system in such a manner and by such method as it may deem practicable in the light of the conditions and attending circumstances of the case in order to determine the proper charge.
1. 
Extra charges for discharge of excess B.O.D. Any customer who discharges sewage having a B.O.D. concentration in excess of two hundred fifty (250) mg/l shall pay an additional charge based on the schedule provided in Section 710.390.
2. 
Extra charges for discharge of excess suspended solids. Any customer who discharges sewage having a suspended solids concentration in excess of three hundred (300) mg/l shall pay an additional charge based on the schedule provided in Section 710.390.
3. 
Extra charges for discharge of toxic substances. Any customer who discharges a toxic substance which is deleterious to the treatment process or to sludge utilization shall be liable for all costs incurred by the City in returning the treatment process or sludge to its proper condition. Such extra charges shall be determined by the treatment plant operator subject to review and approval by the Board of Aldermen and shall include, but not be limited to, costs of labor, chemicals, and equipment directly used in correcting the toxic conditions.
4. 
Where the customer receives the benefit of a City-owned and operated wastewater treatment facility which solely benefits the customer, the cost of operation and maintaining the facility shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of chemicals, utilities, minor repairs, major repairs and replacement required to maintain the treatment facility design function and an appropriate portion of the City's sewer system salary and salary-related cost. The City Board of Aldermen shall determine the portion of the salary cost based on the required manpower to operate and maintain the treatment facility. These charges shall be separate from any other charges billed to the customer and shall be in sufficient detail to allow review by the customer. The extra charges shall be billed monthly and due in the same manner as other charges established by this Article.
[Code 1999 §710.410; Ord. No. 443 §8, 10-22-1992; Ord. No. 694 §2, 4-11-2013]
All sewer service charges established by this Article shall be a part of, but noted as a separate item on, the water bill of each user and shall be billed, collected and become delinquent at the same time and in the same manner as such water bill. Any user of the City sewer system who is delinquent in the payment of the water service charge provided herein (water service charges are delinquent when they are not paid within ten (10) days past the due date, which is due the 20th day of each month), shall be deemed to be delinquent in the payment of the sewer bill and may be subject to being disconnected from the sewer system in the same manner and at the same time as provided in other ordinances for disconnection from the water system. No person who has been disconnected from the sewer system shall be again connected thereto until he/she has paid to the City all delinquent water and sewer bills in full together with the reconnect charge as specified in Section 710.390. Disconnection shall be by removal of the water meter or physical blockage or disconnection of the building sewer service line.
[Code 1999 §710.420; Ord. No. 443 §9, 10-22-1992]
When it appears that an inequity has occurred, the City or its designated agent may submit a report to the circumstances and make recommendations for adjustments of sewer service charges to the Board of Aldermen. Any recommendations for adjustments must be approved by said Board before such adjustments shall be effective.
[Code 1999 §710.430; Ord. No. 443 §10, 10-22-1992]
The elected officials of the City and other duly authorized employees of said City bearing identification and written credentials shall, at reasonable times, be permitted to enter upon all properties for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
[Code 1999 §710.440; Ord. No. 443 §11, 10-22-1992]
A. 
The accounting system for the provisions of this Article shall be as previously established entitled "Sewer Fund".
1. 
All monies collected under the authority of this Article for operation and maintenance shall be accrued to the "Sewer Fund" account.
2. 
Operating expense accounts.
a. 
All expenses incurred in the operation and maintenance of the sewer system shall be charged to the "Sewer Fund Expenditures" account. Each of the operating expense accounts shall be separated to account for the sewer system expenses.
b. 
A "Sewer System Replacement" account shall be established to provide for replacement of major items of sewer system equipment as their useful life expires. Replacement account expenditures shall be restricted to obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances which are necessary during the service life of the treatment works including pumping stations to maintain the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed. A minimum amount as established in Appendix "C" on file in the City Clerk's office, per year from the revenue collected shall be accumulated to this account. Appendix "C", on file in the City Clerk's office, indicates the method of determining the Sewer System Replacement Fund amount and the minimum annual contribution.
3. 
Monies accrued from rate schedule — extra charges — excess monies.
a. 
Monies accrued from the rate schedule and extra charges for operation and maintenance shall be disbursed only for the needs of the sewer system. Any monies transferred into these accounts from other revenue sources and used for operational expenditures shall be returned to their original account through operating efficiency reduction or adjustment to the rate schedule.
b. 
Any excess monies in the sewer system accounts at the end of each fiscal year shall be carried forward and not transferred to other funds.
[Code 1999 §710.450; Ord. No. 443 §12, 10-22-1992]
A. 
At the end of each fiscal year, the balances in the sewer funds shall be reviewed to insure adequate and equitable rate schedules for the following year.
B. 
Any operation and maintenance fund balance carried forward shall be identified by class and credited to the amount due from the customer class in order to meet the budgeted sewer system expenses for the following year.
C. 
The rate schedule adopted for any fiscal year shall be adequate to insure adequate operation and maintenance funds, revenue bond finance charges and to maintain a sufficient replacement fund to cover costs of anticipated major equipment replacements and to insure that all customers pay their proportionate share of the costs of operating and maintaining the sewer system. The City shall notify each user annually, in conjunction with a regular billing, of the rates and that portion charged for operation and maintenance of the sewer system.
D. 
Appendix "B", on file in the City Clerk's office, is the method to be used in calculating the rates for operation and maintenance.