[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.
[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.