[R.O. 2006 §710.010; Ord. No. 03-002 §1, 1-6-2003; Ord. No. 11-017 §1, 6-20-2011]
It is determined and declared to be necessary and conducive to the protection of the public health, safety, welfare and convenience of the City to collect charges from all users who contribute wastewater to the City treatment works. The proceeds of such charges so derived will be used for the purpose of operating, maintaining and retiring the debt for such public wastewater treatment works.
[R.O. 2006 §710.020; Ord. No. 03-002 §1, 1-6-2003; Ord. No. 05-024 §1, 5-2-2005; Ord. No. 11-017 §1, 6-20-2011]
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this Chapter shall be as follows:
BOARD
The Board of Aldermen of the City.
BOD (DENOTING BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND)
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five (5) days at twenty degrees Centigrade (20°C), expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/1).
CITY
The City of Ozark, Missouri
NORMAL DOMESTIC WASTEWATER
Wastewater generated at a rate of two hundred fifty (250) gallons per day or less that has a BOD concentration of not more than two hundred fifty (250) mg/1 and a suspended solids concentration of not more than two hundred fifty (250) mg/l.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
All expenditures during the useful life of the treatment works for materials, labor, utilities and other items which are necessary for managing and maintaining the sewage works to achieve the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation or group.
REPLACEMENT
Expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances which are necessary during the useful life of the treatment works to maintain the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed. The term "operation and maintenance" includes replacement.
RESIDENTIAL CONTRIBUTOR
Any contributor to Ozark's treatment works whose lot, parcel of real estate or building is used for domestic dwelling purposes only.
SANITARY SEWER
A sewer which carries sewage and to which storm, surface and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.
SEWAGE
A combination of the water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions and industrial establishments, together with such ground, surface and storm waters as may be present.
SEWAGE WORKS
All facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage.
SEWER
A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.
SHALL
Is mandatory; MAY — Is permissive.
SS (DENOTING SUSPENDED SOLIDS)
The 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.
TREATMENT WORKS
Any devices and systems for the storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal sewage, domestic sewage or liquid industrial wastes. These include interceptor sewers, outfall sewers, sewage collection systems, individual systems, pumping, power and other equipment and their appurtenances; extensions, improvements, remodeling, additions and alterations thereof; elements essential to provide a reliable recycled supply such as standby treatment units and clear well facilities; and any works, including site acquisition of land, that will be an integral part of the treatment process or is used for ultimate disposal of residues resulting from such treatment; or any other method or system for preventing, abating, reducing, storing, treating, separating or disposing of municipal waste or industrial waste, including waste in combined stormwater and sanitary sewer systems.
USEFUL LIFE
The estimated period during which the treatment works will be operated.
USER
Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, the Federal or State Government, or any unit, agency, political corporation or subdivision of either the Federal or State Government, or other agency receiving sewer services, or to whom water services are made available from the City's facilities pursuant to a written sewer user's agreement.
USER CHARGE
That portion of the total wastewater service charge which is levied in a proportional and adequate manner for the cost of operation, maintenance and replacement of the wastewater treatment works.
WATER METER
A water volume measuring and recording device furnished and installed by the City, the cost of which is billed back to the user.
[R.O. 2006 §710.030; Ord. No. 03-002 §1, 1-6-2003; Ord. No. 11-017 §1, 6-20-2011]
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 treatment works 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 treatment works shall be established by this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 11-017 §1, 6-20-2011]
The rates and fees for sewer service are established and periodically adjusted at the discretion of the Board.
[R.O. 2006 §710.050; Ord. No. 03-002 §1, 1-6-2003; Ord. No. 11-017 §1, 6-20-2011]
Billing procedures shall be as set forth in Chapter 700 of this Code.
[R.O. 2006 §710.060; Ord. No. 03-002 §1, 1-6-2003; Ord. No. 11-017 §1, 6-20-2011]
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.
[R.O. 2006 §710.070; Ord. No. 03-002 §1, 1-6-2003; Ord. No. 05-024 §1, 5-2-2005; Ord. No. 11-017 §1, 6-20-2011]
A. 
Connection fees, also known as "tap-on fees," shall be paid to the City by any person or entity desiring to connect, tap or gain access to the City sewer system. The fee amounts are established and periodically adjusted at the discretion of the Board. The current fees are available for viewing at the Planning and Development Department of the City.
[Ord. No. 20-079, 12-7-2020]
B. 
The fee for any use not specifically listed will be calculated as a direct percentage of an equivalent normal domestic wastewater user. The connection fee for development outside the corporate limits of the City will be two (2) times the rate within the City. Existing structures connected to the City sewer system and paying a monthly bill within the corporate limits of the City at the time of adoption of this Section will not be subject to a connection fee.
C. 
For a connection to a gravity sewer, the property owner will be responsible for the construction and cost to extend the lateral sewer line to the main as required to complete the collection in accordance with the City approved standards of material and construction.
D. 
For a connection to a pressure sewer, the property owner shall be responsible for the construction and cost of the appropriate sized pressure lateral sewer line and an approved grinder pump. It will be the property owner's responsibility to connect the appropriately sized lateral to the grinder pump with the City approved standards of material and construction, and maintenance of the grinder pump shall remain with the property owner.
E. 
Increase In Fees.
1. 
The connection fees set forth in Subsection (A) of this Section directly relate to the retirement of a bond issue authorized on April 5, 2005. Each established rate set forth in Subsection (A) shall come forward in January by ordinance proposing said increase by three and one-half percent (3.5%) unless the Board approves an amendment to said ordinance by adjusting or abating that rate for the following year. Prior to establishing any such sewer charge, including the connection fee, the Board shall hold a public hearing, and at least thirty (30) days' notice shall be given thereof. Such adjustment will only be made in order to provide sufficient funds to pay the debt service on said bonds for the succeeding year. Unless additional sewer infrastructure bonds are authorized and issued in subsequent years, the connection fees set out shall cease on the date the bonds are retired.
[Ord. No. 20-079, 12-7-2020; Ord. No. 21-009, 2-1-2021; Ord. No. 21-098, 12-6-2021; Ord. No. 24-002, 1-2-2024[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: The sewer connection fee proposed in this Section shall increase by three and one-half percent (3.5%) as of 1-3-2024 as enacted by Ord. No. 24-002, same were listed in Exhibit 1 to this ordinance and held on file in the City offices.
2. 
The automatic increase in sewer connection fees of three and one-half percent (3.5%) that would take effect on January 1, 2016, pursuant to Section 715.070(E) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Ozark is hereby abated for the year 2016.
[Ord. No. 13-053 §1, 12-16-2013; Ord. No. 15-061 §1, 1-4-2016]
3. 
The Board of Aldermen set the fee for the 5/8" meter as authorized and referenced Subsection (E)(1), above, and additionally abated the remaining six (6) connection fees for 1", 1.5", 2", 3", 4", and 6" meters.
[Ord. No. 21-098, 12-6-2021]