[Adopted 6-9-1993 by Ord. No. 93-2 (Part 165 of the 1995 Compilation of Ordinances)]
The Township Board of the Charter Township of Huron hereby determines that in the best interests of the public health and welfare of said Township the existing water supply of the Township shall be operated as a public utility under the terms of Act 94, Public Acts of Michigan, 1933, as amended.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See MCLA § 141.101 et seq.
In construing this article, the terms and words hereinafter defined, unless the context clearly establishes otherwise, shall be given the meanings hereinafter set forth:
CONTRACTS
A. 
Contracts previously entered into for the construction of water improvements between the Charter Township of Huron and the County of Wayne by the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Wayne dated October 1, 1961;
B. 
Contracts entered into between the Charter Township of Huron and the County of Wayne, by its board of public works, dated as of April 1, 1965;
C. 
Contracts entered into between the Charter Township of Huron and the County of Wayne, by its board of public works, dated April 1, 1968; or
D. 
Any additional contracts entered into between the Charter Township of Huron and the County of Wayne for the acquisition and construction of any additions, extensions or improvements to the water supply of the Township.
DEBT RETIREMENT PAYMENTS
Those fixed payments required to be made by the Charter Township of Huron to the County of Wayne pursuant to the contracts previously referred to in Subsection B of the definition of "contracts" above.
SYSTEM
All water supply and distribution facilities and properties used or useful in connection with the supply, treatment and distribution of water now in existence or hereafter acquired or constructed within the corporate limits of the Township.
TOWNSHIP
The Charter Township of Huron, County of Wayne, Michigan.
TOWNSHIP BOARD
The Township Board of the Charter Township of Huron, the governing body thereof.
The system shall be operated and maintained on a public utility basis as authorized by law. It is hereby declared to be the intent and purpose of the Township Board to maintain reasonable and uniform rates and charges applicable to various classifications of users so as to provide funds to:
A. 
Operate and maintain said system in a reasonable, proper and efficient manner;
B. 
Make the debt retirement payments as they become due; and
C. 
Provide for such enlargement and extension of said system as shall appear necessary.
The system, as herein defined, shall be and remain under the management, supervision and control of the Township Board or such agency or department of the Township as it may designate, subject to the provisions of the contracts in relation thereto.
The system shall be operated on the basis of a fiscal year beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year.
[Amended 5-8-1996 by Ord. No. 96-5]
The rates and charges for the services and benefits provided by the system shall be as prescribed by the Township Board and found in the fee schedule.
A. 
Connection charges to public water mains and reserve fund.
(1) 
Connection charge. A connection charge to the public water main shall be prescribed by the Township Board and found in the fee schedule. The standard connection charge shall be based on a one-inch service line. Rates for larger sizes shall be computed on request. The permit for such a connection shall be obtained in advance from the Township. These connection charges shall not be less than the cost of connection plus 20%.
(2) 
Reserve fund charge. A reserve fund charge shall be paid for each premises connecting to the Township water main. The reserve fund charge shall be prescribed by the Township Board and found in the fee schedule. The basic unit shall be regarded as a normal house service connection for a single-family residence. Reserve fund charges to premises other than single-family residences shall be in the above amount multiplied by a factor representing the increased water used, based upon the following schedule (square footage is rounded to the next highest foot):
Use
Units
Auto car wash (production lines)
10.0 units per production line
Auto car wash (self service)
1.0 units per stall
Auto dealers
1.0 unit plus 0.15 unit per service bay
Banquet/rental halls
1.00 unit per 2,000 square feet of building area
Barber shop
(See "hair salons")
Bars/lounges (drink and/or dinner)
1.0 unit per 600 square feet of building area
Bowling alleys (does not include bar/lounge area — see applicable section)
1.0 unit plus 0.10 unit per lane
Campgrounds (with individual hookups)
1.0 unit plus 0.30 units per space whether occupied or not
Campgrounds (rustic)
To be determined upon time of application by DPW Director
Churches
1.0 per unit per 6,000 square feet of building area
Cleaners
1.0 unit per 1,000 square feet of building area
Clubhouses
1.0 unit per 1,000 square feet of building area (see ancillary uses for additional units)
Convalescent homes
1.0 unit plus 0.75 unit per bed
Dorms, rooming houses, group quarters with kitchen and/or eating facilities
1.0 unit plus 0.25 units per bed
Dorms, rooming houses, group quarters without kitchen and/or eating facilities
1.0 unit plus 1.0 unit every 6 beds or fraction thereof
Drugstores (with food service)
1.0 unit per 2,000 square feet of building area
Drugstores (without food service)
1.0 unit per 4,000 square feet of building area
Grocery stores and supermarkets
1.0 unit per 2,000 square feet of building area
Hair salons
1.0 unit per 200 square feet of building area
Health spa
1.0 unit plus 1.0 unit per 1,000 square feet
Hospitals
1.0 unit plus 0.75 unit per bed
Hotels and motels
1.0 unit plus 0.25 unit per bed (see ancillary uses for additional units)
Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority
Unit determination to be calculated by Huron Township's engineer
Industrial use
1.0 unit per 10,000 square feet of building area plus 1.0 unit for each additional 10,000 square feet of building area or fraction thereof
Laundry (self-service)
1.0 unit per 100 square feet of building area
Medical clinics
1.0 unit plus 0.50 units per examining rooms
Mobile home parks
1.0 unit per mobile home space whether occupied or not as phases are developed
Multiple-family residence
1.0 unit per dwelling unit
Office building
1.0 unit per 4,000 square feet of building area
Restaurants
1.0 unit per 600 square feet of building area
Riding/boarding stables (public)
1.0 per 5 stalls
Schools
1.0 plus 1.0 units per classrooms
Service station
1.0 unit plus 1.0 units per 2,000 square feet
Snack bars (drive-in)
1.0 unit per 600 square feet of building area plus 0.10 unit per stall
Stores (other than specifically listed)
1.0 unit per 2,000 square foot of building area
Swimming pool (residential excluded)
1.0 unit per 1,000 square feet of pool area, including bath house
Theaters (drive-in)
3.50 units per acre
Theaters (inside)
1.0 unit plus 0.01 unit per seat
Veterinarian clinics
(See "medical clinics")
NOTES:
*
For any use not listed above or for any change in use of an existing building, the per-unit charge shall be determined by the Township DPW Director at the time of application or change of use.
B. 
Inspection charges. In addition to all other charges, there shall be a fee for inspection, payable prior to the time of the connection or alteration to the water service line. Said fee shall be prescribed by the Township Board and found in the fee schedule.
The rates and charges specified in this article shall be subject to revision by the Township Board. Such rates and charges shall provide sufficient funds to enable the system to be efficiently operated and maintained.
No free service shall be furnished by the system to any person, firm or corporation, public or private, or to any public agency, but service so furnished by the system shall be paid for in accordance with the foregoing schedule of rates, or any revision thereof, in compliance with the provision of this article. The Township shall pay from its funds for any connections serving said Township and all of its departments or agencies.
Water bills shall be rendered quarterly during the fiscal year and shall represent charges for the quarterly period immediately preceding the date of rendering the bill. Said bills shall become due and payable within 15 days from the date thereof, and for all bills not paid when due, a penalty of 10% of the amount of such bill shall be added thereto.
A. 
The rates and charges herein specified shall constitute a lien on the property served and benefited. If rates and charges are not paid within six months after the same are due, the water service shall be shut off until payment in full is made. There will then be a charge to turn the water service back on as listed in the fee schedule. If a delinquency still exists as of September 1, all delinquent charges shall be placed on the next tax roll as a lien and collected in the same manner as the general Township taxes.
B. 
As provided in Section 21, Act 94, Public Acts of Michigan, 1933, as amended,[1] where notice is given that a tenant is responsible for payment, no further water or sewer service shall be rendered to such premises until a cash deposit of not less than $100 has been made as a security for the payment of such charges.
[1]
Editor's Note: See MCLA § 141.121 et seq.
All revenues of the system shall be set aside, as collected and deposited, in a separate depository account, in a bank prescribed by the Township Board, which shall be duly qualified to do business in Michigan, in an account to be designated water supply and sewage disposal system receiving fund (hereinafter referred to as the "receiving fund"), said revenues so deposited in the receiving fund to be used and allocated for operation and maintenance of the system.
A. 
Water bond debt retirement.
(1) 
There shall be maintained a separate depository account designated water bond debt retirement fund to be used and applied to the payment of contractual obligations incurred by the Township under contracts for the construction of water main extensions.
(2) 
If at the time of mailing the annual tax levy, there shall be funds on hand in the water bond debt retirement fund earmarked and set aside for the payment of the contractual obligations due prior to the next tax collection period, such annual tax levy may be reduced accordingly. Funds on hand in the water bond debt retirement fund are hereby earmarked and pledged solely and only for the payment of any contractual obligations incurred by the Township for water main extensions.
B. 
Water reserve fund.
(1) 
There shall be maintained a separate depository account known as the water reserve fund. All revenues so designated shall be paid into this account and shall be used solely for the following purposes:
(a) 
Debt retirement, providing a reserve of at least $500,000 is maintained;
(b) 
Extension or expansion of system;
(c) 
Major repair (defined as repairs having a cost of not less than $50,000);
(d) 
Matching funds for grants.
(2) 
No expenditure of reserve funds shall be made without the prior approval of the Township Board.
C. 
Surplus. Any moneys remaining in the receiving fund after meeting the requirements of the receiving fund may be used, at the option of the Township, for:
(1) 
Advance water debt retirement payments as authorized and provided in the contracts;
(2) 
For the acquisition and construction of additional extensions and improvements to the system, or the payment of indebtedness incurred therefor; or
(3) 
For any other legal purpose.
Nothing contained in this article shall be construed in any way to prevent the Township from entering into additional contracts under the provisions of either Act 185, Public Acts of Michigan, 1957 as amended,[1] or Act 342, Public Acts of Michigan, 1939, as amended,[2] for the acquisition, construction and financing of additions, extensions and improvements to the system, and the use of revenues of the system for the payment of additional contractual obligations incurred thereby.
[1]
Editor's Note: See MCLA § 123.731 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: See MCLA § 46.171 et seq.
[Amended 8-25-1993 by Ord. No. 93-6]
A. 
The owner of all buildings proposed and existing for use for human occupancy for any purpose situated on property within the Township which abuts any street, alley or right-of-way, whether public or private, in which there is now located a public water main shall be hereby required, at his expense, to connect directly with the water main, provided that the water service connection is within 400 feet of the aforementioned building. Connection with the water main shall be in accordance with the provisions of all applicable rules, regulations and ordinances.
B. 
The owner of all buildings proposed and existing for use for human occupancy for any purpose situated on property outside of the Township which abuts any street, alley or right-of-way, whether public or private, in which there is now located a public Huron Township water main shall be allowed, at his expense, to connect directly with the water main, provided that the water service connection is within 400 feet of the aforementioned building. Connection with the water main shall be in accordance with the provisions of all applicable rules, regulations and ordinances of Huron Township.
C. 
The Township Board may approve the deferral of payment of all connection charges for a single-family home in a case where hardship prevents payment of the charges prior to connection. "Hardship" means a situation in which neither the owner or the occupant of a single-family home can pay the connection charges in full before connection, due to poverty. If charges are deferred until after the connection is made, the connection shall not be made until the owner of the property signs an agreement in a form approved by the Township Attorney, suitable for recording and creating a lien against the property for the amount of the unpaid charges. The agreement will state the installment payments, if any, required, and will contain all disclosures required by law to be made for deferred payments to consumers relating to installments and total amount due. In the event of deferred payment, payment in full of the unpaid balance shall be required prior to transfer of ownership.
D. 
For new construction, application for a permit to connect to any water main in the system shall be made prior to the issuance of a building permit.
E. 
Ownership of the property will not he transferred until said property is connected to the public water system, if available.
A. 
Any person found to be violating any provision of this article shall be served by the Township with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations.
B. 
Any person who shall knowingly continue any violation beyond the time limit provided for in Subsection A of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or to both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. Each day that a violation of this article exists shall constitute a separate and distinct offense and shall be so punishable.
This article shall be recorded in the official Huron Township Ordinance Book as soon as practicable after its passage, which record shall be authenticated by the signatures of the Township supervisor and Township Clerk and shall be published in accordance with law.