[Ord. No. 2011.27 Art. I, 11-14-2011]
It is determined and declared to be necessary and conducive to the protection of the public health, safety, welfare, and convenience of the City of Desloge to collect charges from all users who use the City's water system. The proceeds of such charges so derived will be used for the purpose of operating, maintaining, and retiring the debt for such public water system.
[Ord. No. 2011.27 Art. II, 11-14-2011]
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this Article shall be as follows:
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
All expenditures during the useful life of the system for materials, labor, utilities, and other items which are necessary for managing and maintaining the system to achieve the capacity and performance for which system was designed and constructed.
REPLACEMENT
Expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories, or appurtenances which are necessary during the useful life of the system to maintain the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed. The term "operation and maintenance" includes replacement.
RESIDENTIAL USER
Any user of the City's water system whose lot, parcel of real estate, or building is used for domestic dwelling purposes only.
SHALL
Is mandatory; MAY: Is permissive.
USEFUL LIFE
The estimated period during which the treatment works will be operated.
USER CHARGE
That portion of the total water service charge which is levied in a proportional and adequate manner for the cost of operation, maintenance, and replacement of the water system.
WATER METER
A water volume measuring and recording device furnished and/or installed by the City of Desloge or furnished and/or installed by a user and approved by the City of Desloge.
WATER SYSTEM
Any devices and systems for the storage, treatment, recycling, transmission, and distribution of water. These include transmission and distribution lines, individual systems, pumping, power, and other equipment and their appurtenances; extensions, improvements, remodeling, additions, and alterations thereof; elements essential to provide a reliable water supply such as standby treatment units and any works, including site acquisition of land, that will be part of the treatment process.
WINTER AVERAGE USE
Average of winter quarter (December, January, February).
[Ord. No. 2011.27 Art. III, 11-14-2011]
A. 
The user charge system shall generate adequate annual revenues to pay the costs of annual operation and maintenance including replacement and cost associated with debt retirement of bonded capital associated with financing the water system which the City may by ordinance designate to be paid by the user charge system. That portion of the total user charge which is designated for operation and maintenance including replacement of the water system shall be established by this Article.
B. 
That portion of the total user charge collected which is designated for the operation and maintenance including replacement purposes as established in Section 705.320 shall be deposited in a separate non-lapsing fund known as the Operation, Maintenance and Replacement Fund and will be kept in two (2) primary accounts as follows:
1. 
The Operation and Maintenance Account shall be an account designated for the specific purpose of defraying operation and maintenance costs (excluding replacement) of the water system. Deposits in the Operation and Maintenance Account shall be made annually from the operation and maintenance revenue.
2. 
The Replacement Account shall be an account designated for the purpose of ensuring replacement needs over the useful life of the water system. Deposits in the Replacement Account shall be made annually from the replacement revenue. The Replacement Account shall be an account designated for the purpose of ensuring replacement needs over the useful life of the system. Deposits in the Replacement Account shall be made annually from the replacement revenue in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) annually.
C. 
Fiscal year-end balances in the Operation and Maintenance Account and the Replacement Account shall be carried over to the same accounts in each 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 user charge rates for operation, maintenance, and replacement. The user charge rate(s) 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.
[Ord. No. 2011.27 Art. IV, 11-14-2011]
A. 
The City shall review the user charge system annually and revise user charge rates as necessary to ensure that the system generates adequate revenues to pay the costs of operation and maintenance including replacement and that the system continues to provide for the proportional distribution of operation and maintenance including replacement costs among users and user classes.
B. 
The City will notify each user at least annually, in conjunction with a regular bill, of the rate being charged for operation and maintenance including replacement of the treatment works.