[R.O. 2010 §500.190; Ord. No. 03-01 §1, 3-5-2001; Ord. No. 14-04 §§1 — 3, 8-16-2004]
A. 
This program is to commence on January first (1st) of the year following first (1st) collection of the fee.
B. 
A fee will be assessed at the rate of fifty dollars ($50.00) per year. Condominium residents are not subject to this fee or program pursuant to State law.
C. 
Assuming fees collected exceed expenditures, the Board of Aldermen may waive all or any portion of the fee for any period of time it chooses with the provision it may be reassessed without an affirming vote of the people in order to meet increasing demand.
D. 
A sewer lateral is defined as the portion of pipe which carries household wastes to the MSD sewer main and which lies between the house connection and the sewer main. The definition is the same whether the pipe is located in the front, side or rear yard.
E. 
The City will contract for the repair of a defective lateral if after investigation, it is found to be crushed due to causes beyond the control of the property owner, or if, as a result of pipe cracks or leaking joints, tree roots or soil has infiltrated the pipe resulting in a blockage of the pipe rendering the lateral not functional. Simple blockages that can be corrected by sewer cleaning or rodding will not be covered under this program. The maximum that the City will pay under this program for any sewer lateral repair is three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) with any additional cost for repair being paid by the resident whose sewer lateral is being repaired.
F. 
The responsibility of the City is limited to excavation and repair of the lateral pipe, and backfilling in a workmanlike manner. The top six (6) inches of the backfill material will be top soil. It will be the responsibility of the unit owner to restore landscaping and ground cover, including grass, in whatever manner they choose. The City will not be responsible for restoration of the yard to a grass or landscaped surface.
G. 
The money generated from this fee will be used to replace sidewalks, driveways and streets removed to accomplish the repair. In the event it was necessary to remove accessory structures such as fences, this money can be used to restore such fences to their preexisting condition. In the event obstacles such as yard sheds, garages, etc., are in the path of the lateral and lie over the damaged portion of the lateral, the City reserves the right to reroute the lateral to avoid the necessity of removing the structure.
H. 
Licensed plumbers and drain layers will be contracted to work on the sanitary sewer laterals on a bid basis. The lowest and best bid shall be awarded the contract. The successful contractor shall pay no less than the prevailing rate of hourly wages for each craft or type of workmanship needed for the sewer lateral repair as determined by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Standards.
I. 
If during the above-mentioned investigation stage, the sewer line has to be cleaned out before it is televised, any cost for that cleaning will be borne by the resident or property owner if the sewer lateral is found not to be eligible for repair. If the sewer lateral is found to be eligible for repair, the City will bear the cost for this cleaning in conjunction with this investigative stage.