[1]
State law reference: Rates and charges, MCL 141.121 et seq.
[Code 1974, § 111A-4.1; Ord. No. 2001-18, 12-4-2001]
Charges shall be made to all premises connected to the water
supply system as provided in this article. Charges shall include a
connection charge for water service when the user's property is first
connected to the system, a benefit charge to pay for the construction
of the water main adjacent to the property, a billing charge for each
bill issued, a commodity charge for the volume of water used, and
other charges and costs for services which are equivalent to the cost
of providing such services.
[Code 1974, § 111A-4.2; Ord. No. 2001-18, 12-4-2001]
Rates sufficient to provide for the payment of the expenses
of administration and operation of the water system and such expenses
for the maintenance thereof as may be necessary to preserve the same
in good repair and working order; to provide for the payment of the
interest upon and principal of all bonds payable there from, as and
when the same shall become due and payable, and for the creation of
a reserve for the payment of principal and interest required in Township
Ordinance No. 34; and to provide for such other expenditures and funds
for the system as are required by law shall be fixed and revised from
time to time by resolution of the Township Board so as to produce
the aforementioned amounts. The methodology of adjusting the commodity
charges shall be in accordance with the water and wastewater rate
study prepared by the Township's consultant, presented to and approved
by the Township Board in 2001. Such revisions shall be by resolution
of the Township Board and formal amendment of Township Ordinance No.
34 setting rates for water consumption shall not be necessary. All
rate changes shall be published at least twice in a newspaper of general
circulation within the Township.
[Code 1974, § 111A-4.3; Ord. No. 2001-18, 12-4-2001]
Each premises connecting to any water mains of the system shall
pay a connection charge as established from time to time by resolution
of the Township Board. The methodology of adjusting the connection
charges shall be in accordance with the water and wastewater rate
study prepared by the Township's consultant, presented to and approved
by the Township Board in 2001. Such charges shall be paid in cash
before a tap-in permit is issued. Nothing herein shall abrogate the
exemption to connection charges provided to certain designated lands
by § 12c of Township Ordinance No. 34.
[Code 1974, § 111A-4.4; Ord. No. 2001-18, 12-4-2001]
Those persons owning lands in direct proximity to a Township
water main whose lands have not been subjected to a special assessment
to pay for the construction of such main and who make connection to
such water main shall pay a benefit charge for the privilege of each
connection to such main in addition to all other charges above provided,
which benefit charge shall be as established from time to time by
resolution of the Township Board. Such benefit charge shall be paid
in cash or in installments, with interest and penalties, all as shall
be established and provided from time to time by resolution of the
Township Board.
[Code 1974, § 111A-4.4.1; Ord. No. 2001-18, 12-4-2001]
The provision of public water service through the establishment
of Public Act No. 188 of 1954 (MCL § 41.721 et seq.) water
service district to existing uses is not always appropriate. In those
cases, where all potential users in the area to be served by the proposed
water main extension do not seek service at the present time, a temporary
one-inch-diameter water service extension may be authorized at the
expense of the applicant. Temporary service may be authorized due
to an emergency because of a private well failure or if the Township
Board determines that a main line extension will unlikely be required
or appropriate beyond the affected property in the immediate future.
In no event shall a temporary service extend beyond two parcels or
200 feet, whichever is less, from the existing main to the customer's
property line. The applicant for a temporary connection shall pay
a benefit charge in the amount established by resolution, unless installment
payments are approved by the Township Board, and the appropriate connection
fee in cash prior to connection to the temporary service. When the
main is eventually extended, the benefit charge collected for the
temporary connection will be applied to the benefit charge computed
for the extension of the water main. At the time the main is extended,
the temporary service shall be abandoned.
[Code 1974, § 111A-4.5; Ord. No. 2001-18, 12-4-2001]
No free water service shall be furnished by the system to the
Township or to any person, firm, or corporation, public or private,
or to any public agency or instrumentality. The cost of water connections
from the system to private premises shall not be paid from the proceeds
of the bond issue financing such systems or from the revenues of the
system. The Township shall pay for all water used by it at the established
rates.
[Code 1974, § 111A-4.6; Ord. No. 2001-18, 12-4-2001]
Charges for all water services rendered by the system shall
be billed and collected at least quarterly. The frequency of billings
shall be established from time to time by resolution of the Township
Board. All bills paid on or before the 20th day of the month next
following the date of billing shall be without penalty, but if unpaid
by such date shall thereafter be considered delinquent and shall be
subject to a 5% penalty.
[Code 1974, § 111A-4.7; Ord. No. 2001-18, 12-4-2001]
The Department of Public Works and Engineering is hereby authorized
to enforce the collection of charges for water service to any premises
by discontinuing the water service to such premises, and legal action
may be instituted by the Township against the customer to collect
payment of charges. The charges for water service are a lien on the
premises to which furnished under the provisions of Public Act No.
94 of 1933 (MCL § 141.101 et seq.). The Director of Public
Works and Engineering shall, annually on November 1, certify all unpaid
charges for such service furnished to any premises which, on October
31 preceding, have remained unpaid for a period of six months to the
Township Supervisor, who shall place the same on the next Township
tax roll. Such charges so assessed shall be collected in the same
manner as general Township taxes. Where water service to any premises
is turned off to enforce the payment of water service charges, such
services shall not be recommenced until all delinquent charges have
been paid, and there shall be a turn-on charge as established from
time to time by resolution of the Township Board. In such or any other
case where, in the discretion of the Director of Public Works and
Engineering, the collection of charges for water service may be difficult
or uncertain, the director may require a deposit of three times the
average quarterly water service bill for such premises as estimated
by the Director of Public Works and Engineering. Such deposit may
be applied against any delinquent water service charges and the application
thereof shall not affect the right of the department to turn off the
water service to any premises for any delinquency thereby satisfied.
No such deposit shall bear interest and such deposit, or any remaining
balance thereof, shall be returned to the customer making the same
when he shall discontinue receiving water service.
