[Code 1992, § 13.01(2); amended 3-13-2017 by Ord. No. 17-04]
The Director of Utilities shall have general charge of all work of extension and improvement of the waterworks under the general direction of the Utility Commission with additional approval when required under Section 78-8(5). All such work when let by formal contract, signed by the President and Secretary of the Utility Commission and the Mayor and City Clerk, shall be under the direction of the Director and shall be carried out as may be directed by the Utility Commission. For any work of this nature done without a formal contract, the Director shall have general supervision, subject to such statutory requirements and such ordinance provisions as the City may make, and shall purchase the necessary materials and employ the necessary help and labor for such work.
[Code 1992, § 13.05; amended 3-13-2017 by Ord. No. 17-04]
When water mains are being laid, the Director shall make systematic
inspections of all hydrants, connections, sleeves, etc., to prevent
poor or careless work and later loss of water by leakage. Each main
extension shall be tested for tightness of joints before trenches
are filled.
[Code 1992, § 13.03; amended 3-13-2017 by Ord. No. 17-04]
All construction and extensions of the water system shall be
performed after the award of a contract by the Utility Commission,
signed by the President and Secretary of the Utility Commission and
the Mayor and City Clerk, unless otherwise provided, except that the
Director upon approval by the Utility Commission shall have authority
to contract directly for replacements and maintenance.
[Code 1992, § 13.04; amended 3-13-2017 by Ord. No. 17-04]
Extension of mains shall be made whenever ordered by the Utility
Commission and as rapidly as can reasonably be done after approval
by Utility Commission action. When installing mains, the system shall
be so laid out as to provide ample water in time of fire. The location
of hydrants shall conform to the specifications of the American Waterworks
Association.
[Code 1992, § 13.06; amended 3-13-2017 by Ord. No. 17-04]
Rules for extension shall be as follows:
(1)
Initiation. Extensions to existing water mains shall be initiated
by application in writing to the Utility Commission. The Utility Commission
will authorize the preparation of the plans which will be prepared
by the engineer of the Utility Commission.
(2)
Owners' agreement to pay share of costs. By signing the application,
the owner agrees to pay the proportionate share of the estimated cost
of making such extension. Application for a new main shall be made
by 51% of the abutting benefited frontage.
(3)
Billing. When the cost of a main extension has been determined, bills
of particulars shall be mailed to the abutting property owners at
the address appearing in the application. If such bills have not been
paid by October 1 of the year in which rendered, the amount of such
bills shall be certified to the City Clerk by the Director, and the
Clerk shall charge the amounts on the tax rolls of the City to the
property described to be collected according to law for the collection
of general taxes.
(4)
Assessment of costs. When the Utility Commission shall have ordered
the construction of any water main which shall become part of the
public water system, the cost of the improvement shall be assessed
against the lots, parts of lots or parcels of land which front upon
the proposed line of the water main and which are specifically benefited
thereby. On corner lots where water mains are constructed on both
lot sides, a credit of 125 feet against the total water assessment
for both sides shall be given. However, in no case shall such assessment
be less than 60 feet. Special assessments for water mains shall be
in accordance with the procedures under W.S.A. § 66.0703.
(5)
Basis of assessment; size of mains. The amount assessed against any
property shall be computed on a front footage basis using the total
cost of the improvement, including the construction cost for the size
of main required to adequately serve and benefit the property as determined
by the City, but in no case shall such main be less than six inches
nor more than eight inches in a residential zone. In a commercial,
business or industrial zone, the size of the main shall be not less
than eight inches nor more than 12 inches, plus the costs of engineering
and legal services and any other item of direct or indirect cost which
is attributed to the improvement, not including the cost of that portion
of the water main in intersections of streets and alleys which shall
be paid by the City.
(6)
Customer-financed basis in lieu of immediate assessment. Where the
density of prospective consumers does not warrant immediate assessment
for the mains, extensions will be made on a customer-financed basis.
The property owner shall be notified by certified mail that a deferred
assessment will be levied and become payable when the property is
actually hooked up to the main or portions of the property benefited
by its hookup or connection thereto.
a.
The cost of the extension, including fire hydrants and street intersection,
will be determined and the total allocated to general service. This
amount will then be divided by the total assessable footage requesting
the service, and these amounts collected in advance or when an extension
is put in service.
b.
As additional consumers are connected to a water main that was originally
paid for by customer contributions, the utility will require a contribution
from each new consumer. This contribution shall be determined by the
utility on a front-foot basis. The assessment rate shall be calculated
using current prices for whatever size main is installed. This amount
shall then be refunded pro rata to all consumers along the extension
whose remaining contribution exceeds what would have been assessed
under Subsections (4) and (5) of this section. Main extensions, outlots
and backlots and dead-end lots shall be assessed on the basis of a
minimum lot which shall be 60 feet in width. In areas where lot dimensions
are not proportionate, the utility shall make an assessment on the
basis of area benefited by the main extension.
c.
When refunds have reduced the contribution of any customer to the
point where his contribution equals the amount that would have been
assessed under Subsections (4) and (5) of this section, no premises
that may connect will be assessed at the computed amount per front
foot abutting the main.
d.
When extension of a customer-financed main is required to serve a
new customer and the cost per consumer exceeds the average remaining
contribution in the original extension, the new extension will be
considered as an entirely new project without refunds or other connection
with the original extension.
(7)
Connection to transmission mains or connecting loops; assessment.
When customers connect to transmission mains or connecting loops laid
at the expense of the utility, there will be assessed on a front-foot
basis an amount equal to the average front-foot assessment in the
area.
[Code 1992, § 13.07; amended 3-13-2017 by Ord. No. 17-04]
The Director of Utilities shall cause to be prepared two maps
showing the locations, sizes and types of all mains, valves, service
pipes and hydrants and of the entire waterworks system and shall,
from time to time, make such additions and alterations as shall correspond
to the changes in the physical plant. He shall keep one of such maps
in the office of the Utility Commission and one in the office of the
City Clerk.
