[Amended 11-15-1977 by Ord. No. 1101; 11-7-1978 by Ord. No. 1144; 9-2-1980 by Ord. No. 22-80; 12-15-1981 by Ord. No. 47-81; 8-2-1983 by Ord. No. 19-83; 11-19-1985 by Ord. No. 26-85; 12-15-1987 by Ord. No. 32-87; 12-20-1988 by Ord. No. 22-88; 2-16-1993 by Ord. No. 2-93; 11-16-2004 by Ord. No. 36-04; 8-5-2008 by Ord. No. 13-08; 5-18-2010 by Ord. No. 7-10; 4-19-2011 by Ord. No. 6-11; 5-6-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-14]
[Amended 8-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-14; 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-25; 5-21-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-17; 11-29-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-33; 10-20-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-20; 9-21-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-22; 10-4-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21; 10-3-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-22; 10-1-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-19; 10-7-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-29]
Residential usage for all domestic use only. The bills for the 12 months beginning each April shall be based on an average of the water consumption billed in January, February and March. The sewage charges for a new residential user who has not established an average for the months of January, February and March, or a user who only has sewer and no water usage shall be charged the following usage:
(1)
Single occupancy: 200 cubic feet per month, plus the minimum sewer charge.
(2)
Double or more occupancy: 600 cubic feet per month, plus the minimum sewer charge.
(3)
No water usage - metered: 600 cubic feet per month, plus the minimum sewer charge.
The charges are:
A. 
Effective October 2025 billing: customer charge of $37.20 per meter, plus $0.05013 per cubic foot.
[Amended 8-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-14; 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-25; 5-21-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-17; 11-29-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-33; 10-20-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-20; 9-21-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-22; 10-4-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21; 10-3-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-22; 10-1-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-19; 10-7-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-29]
General services rates (formerly commercial) are applied to nonresidential accounts each month. The charges are:
A. 
Effective October 2025 billing: customer charge of $89.68 per meter, plus $0.05013 per cubic foot.
[Amended 8-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-14; 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-25; 5-21-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-17; 11-29-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-33; 10-20-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-20; 9-21-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-22; 10-4-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21; 10-3-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-22; 10-1-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-19; 10-7-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-29]
Large general services rates are as follows:
A. 
Users contributing above allowed limits of BOD, SS, TKN, or FOG as defined below. The charges are:
(1) 
Effective October 2025 billing:
(a) 
Minimum charge of $476.77 per meter; and
(b) 
Per cubic foot: $0.02524; and
(c) 
Per pound of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) that is measured to be greater than 300 mg/l: $0.40; and
(d) 
Per pound of suspended solids (SS) that measured to be greater than 350 mg/l: $0.25.
(e) 
Per pound of total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) that measured to be greater than 30 mg/l: $1.00.
(f) 
Per pound of fats, oils and grease (FOG) that measured to be greater than 30 mg/l: $0.27.
B. 
The sewer charges in Subsection A(1)(c) thru (f) above are based on observed wastewater flow from the customer using a suitable continuous recording device for measuring concentrations of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solids (SS), total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and fats, oils and grease (FOG).
C. 
If the additional cost associated with industrial general service wastes are not recovered by the large general service rate charges or above surcharges, the City shall have the option to review the effect any user (all classifications) has on the wastewater system and establish adequate charges, if necessary, for the excessive amounts of biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids or other applicable pollutants.
A. 
The use charge shall be applied separately to each individual user having a separate water meter which measures water contributed to or discharged into the sanitary sewerage system and shall be determined by the water meter reading for water furnished by the Water Department of the City or by privately owned water supply which may contribute to or discharge into the sanitary sewerage system. In the case of an unmetered water supply, the quantity of water used and discharged into the sanitary sewerage system shall be determined to the satisfaction of the Council and at the expense of the owner of the unmetered water supply. If the quantity of unmetered water discharged into the sanitary sewerage system is estimated by the Council to be ordinarily in excess of the amount permitted to be used under the minimum charge as applied to said user, the Council may require such water supply to be metered at the expense of the owner or user.
B. 
Should a water meter get out of order or fail to register properly, the user shall be charged for the month or months in which the meter is accurate, a sum equal to the charge for the amount of water used on said premises during the corresponding period of the preceding year; provided that if no basis for such comparison exists, or if the Water/Wastewater Superintendent determines such basis is unfair to the consumer, the consumer shall pay such reasonable sum for sewer use during such period as the Water/Wastewater Superintendent shall determine. In the event of any unusual circumstances causing a higher water use than normal during the month in which residential rates are set, the following 11 months' sewer use fee to the consumer may be adjusted as determined to be fair by the Water/Wastewater Superintendent.
[Amended 4-3-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-10]
C. 
Any water meter out of order must be repaired and put into operation as soon as practical.
The use fees prescribed by this article shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner and by the same officers as water charges are collected by the City.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 390, Water, Art. I.
All money raised from the sewer use fees shall be used for the maintenance or operation of the existing system, to create a reserve fund for the purpose of future maintenance or construction of a new sewer system or for the payment of bonds outstanding or to be issued for the construction of or additions to such sewerage system for the City.
In addition to all other remedies, if a customer shall for any reason remain indebted to the municipality for sewer service furnished, such amount due, together with any rents and charges in arrears, shall be considered a delinquent sewer rent which is hereby declared to be a lien upon the real estate for which the same was furnished. Any delinquent sewer rentals which remain unpaid for a period of three months after they become due may be, by resolution of the Council, assessed against said real estate as a special assessment, which special assessment shall be certified by the Municipal Clerk to the County Clerk of Seward County, Nebraska. The County Clerk shall thereupon place the same on the tax rolls for collection, subject to the same penalties and to be collected in like manner as other City taxes; provided that the City shall notify in writing nonoccupying owners of premises or their agents whenever their tenants or lessees are 60 days' delinquent in the payment of sewer rent. Thereafter, if the owner of said real estate or his agent within such City shall notify the Council or Superintendent in writing to discontinue sewer service to said real estate or the occupants thereof, it shall be the duty of the officer in charge of the Water/Wastewater Department promptly to discontinue said service; and rentals for any sewer service furnished to the occupants of said real estate in violation of said notice shall not be a lien thereon. (Neb. RS 16-694)
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).