[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
There are established rates and charges for the use of and service
supplied by the sewerage system of the City as follows.
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
There are established four classes of users, namely residential,
commercial, industrial, and institutional. These users are defined
as follows:
(A)
Residential User: Any building or any part of any building designed
or occupied by one or more persons as a single housekeeping unit.
Where there is more than one single housekeeping unit in a flat or
apartment, each single housekeeping unit shall constitute a separate
residential user.
(B)
Commercial User: Any connection to said system other than a "residential
user" as defined herein, including hotels, restaurants, stores, mercantile
establishments, factories which do not fit the definition of an "industrial
user", shops, schools, hospitals, packinghouses, hatcheries, etc.,
which do not fit the definition of an "industrial user".
(C)
Industrial User:
1.
Any nongovernmental user of publicly owned treatment works which
discharges more than 3,300 cubic feet per day of sanitary waste, or
a volume of process waste, or combined process and sanitary waste,
equivalent to 3,300 cubic feet per day of sanitary waste. Sanitary
wastes are the wastes discharged from the average residential user.
The strength of the average residential waste discharge in terms of
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended solids (SS) per volume
of flow, as a minimum, and those concentrations shall be applied in
determining equivalent volumes of process waste or combined discharges
of sanitary and process wastes;
2.
Any nongovernmental user of a publicly owned treatment works which
discharges wastewater to the treatment works which contains toxic
pollutants or poisonous solids, liquids, or gases in sufficient quantity
either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to injure or interfere
with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or
animals, create a public nuisance, or create any hazard in or have
an adverse effect on the waters receiving any discharge from the treatment
works.
(D)
Institutional User: Either the state of Illinois department of mental
health or the state of Illinois department of corrections.
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
The wastewater charge for the use of and for the service supplied
by the wastewater facilities of the City shall consist of:
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
The adequacy of the charges for wastewater service shall be
reviewed annually by the City based upon information available from
the annual audit of City accounts and upon volume and waste strengths
obtained by the City. The charges shall be revised, when appropriate,
to reflect estimated needs for operation, maintenance and replacement
and for debt service. Revised charges shall be computed in the following
manner:
(A)
Estimate the projected annual revenue required to meet debt service
requirements, to do the required billings and collections, and operate
and maintain the wastewater facilities including a replacement fund
for the year and to provide adequate funds for minor extensions and
improvements and contingencies.
(B)
Proportion the estimated costs to wastewater facility categories
by volume, BOD and suspended solids.
(C)
Estimate wastewater volume, pounds of BOD and pounds of suspended
solids to be treated.
(D)
Compute costs for 100 cubic feet for normal sewage strength.
(E)
Compute surcharge costs per pound in excess of normal sewage strength
for BOD and SS.
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Charges shall be determined separately for debt service and
for operation, maintenance and replacement.
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Charges for residential users shall be based upon the assumption
that each such user contributes 8.8 units (100 cubic feet) of wastes
per month.
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[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
Normal domestic sewage or wastewater shall be considered to
have the following strengths or concentrations:
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
Each industry, as so defined in this chapter, shall submit to the City the results of laboratory measurements, tests and analyses representative of the wastes discharged by the industry, as required by Section 7-7-5-6 of this title. In addition, the City shall, not less than once each year, monitor the discharge from each industry to establish the BOD and suspended solids strengths, which shall then be used in computations of the extra strength surcharge component of the sewer service charge.
[Ord. 2018-890, 12-17-2018; amended 12-7-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-934]
Each residential user will be put in a payment level based on
their level of usage as outlined below, with a new tier coming into
effect in the 2019, 2020, and the last tier to go into effect at the
will of the City Council no earlier than 2021:
|
Usage
(Gallons)
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Monthly Payments
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|---|---|---|---|
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Minimum
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Maximum
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Tier 1 - January 1, 2019:
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Level 1
|
0
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1,000
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$25
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Level 2
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1,001
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4,000
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$35
|
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Level 3
|
4,001
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8,000
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$45
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|
Level 4
|
8,001
|
n/a
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$55
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Tier 2 - January 1, 2020:
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Level 1
|
0
|
1,000
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$30
|
|
Level 2
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1,001
|
4,000
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$40
|
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Level 3
|
4,001
|
8,000
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$50
|
|
Level 4
|
8,001
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n/a
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$60
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Tier 3 - no earlier than January 1, 2021:
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Level 1
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0
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1,000
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$35
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Level 2
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1,001
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4,000
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$45
|
|
Level 3
|
4,001
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8,000
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$55
|
|
Level 4
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8,001
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n/a
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$65
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[Ord. 2019-891, 1-7-2019]
Each commercial, industrial, and institutional user will be
put in a payment level based on their level of usage as outlined below:
|
Usage
(Gallons)
|
Flat Rate
|
Usage Rate Tier 1
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Usage Rate Tier 2
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Commercial and industrial structure:
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Level 1
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0 - 6,000
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$35
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Level 2
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6,000-100,000
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$35
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$0.40
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Level 3
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100,000 or more
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$35
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$0.29
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Institutional structure:
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Level 1
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0 - 4,000
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$35
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Level 2
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4,000-1,000,000
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$35
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$0.40
| |
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Level 3
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1,000,000 or more
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$35
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$0.34
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[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
Sewage service charges, effective November 1, 2008, to all residential,
commercial, industrial and institutional properties serviced outside
the City limits shall be:
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(A)
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For each residential user a flat charge per month for operation,
maintenance, and replacement
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$27.08
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(B)
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Each commercial, industrial, and institutional property shall
pay the following charges:
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|
1.
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Operation, maintenance, and replacement charge
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$3.55
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2.
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Volume charge for operation, maintenance, and replacement per
100 cubic feet
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$2.56
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3.
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Per pound of BOD in excess of 200 pounds of BOD per million
pounds of sewage
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$0.69
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4.
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Per pound of suspended solids in excess of 240 pounds of suspended
solids per million pounds of sewage
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$0.40
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(C)
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Service charge for septic tank waste per 100 cubic feet of waste
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$67.77
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(D)
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Service charge for holding tank waste per 100 cubic feet of
waste
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$7.70
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[Ord. 2019-891, 1-7-2019]
Effective as of January 2019 there is no longer a biannual increase
built into the sewer billing model. If, at a later date, the City
opts to re-introduce the biannual increase, then it will be reflected
here in this Code.
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008; amended Ord. 2018-890, 12-17-2018; Ord. 2020-918, 2-3-2020]
The monthly charge for commercial and industrial users shall
be based upon the water consumed or used on the premises in the preceding
two months.
The monthly charge residential users shall be based upon the
water consumed or used on the premises on the average usage of prior
year's billing cycles of October, November and December. One must
have a continuous account in order to establish an average. Depending
on the usage level the account holder will be placed in a level as
outlined in 7-8-1-7. The tier rate structure provides an increase
in monthly charges depending on your usage level.
The only way to move from one residential level to another is
for a new average to be established. A homeowner's current level will
follow from one home purchase in the municipality to the new home.
Said level rate will remain until a new average can be established.
This provision does not apply to renters, as the sewer account is
in the landlord's name. In the event water was shut off, when the
account is re-activated the account holder will have the same tier
they had before the water was shut off.
In the event that an average cannot be established due to the
residential account not being active for the three-month period, then
those residential users shall be placed in level 2 until an average
can be established in the appropriate three-month period.
In the event that an average cannot be established due to the residential user obtaining water from an unmetered well, then those residential users shall be placed in level 1. This will be effective from the time that the residential user notifies the City and the unmetered well is verified. Residential users on unmetered wells are not eligible for reimbursement for monthly charges paid prior to the effective date of this section. Should the residential user obtain water from the public supply in the future, the monthly charge for the user will then be placed in a usage level as outlined in Section 7-8-1-7.
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008; amended Ord. 2020-918, 2-3-2020]
For all users, except residential users, who obtain water from
the public supply owned and operated by the Illinois American Water
Company, or its successor, the volume charge shall be based upon the
metered water use from records made available to the City by the water
utility. Likewise, these volumes shall constitute the basis for calculating
extra strength surcharges.
There are currently within the City residential properties that use a well water system that do not have a water meter installed. In the event of the sale of the property, a water meter will be installed as a condition of that sale so that property can be properly monitored for sewage use and establish the appropriate level for their usage as outlined in Section 7-8-1-7. Any new construction of residential properties that opt to use a well system shall have a water meter installed to monitor sewage use and adopt the appropriate level for their usage as outlined in Section 7-8-1-7.
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
The owner or occupant of any premises discharging sewage into
the system through a commercial or industrial service connection and
having a source of water supply separate from any public utility distributing
water to customers in the area shall, within 60 days after the effective
date of this chapter, and at his own expense, provide for the installation
of a meter or meters for the purpose of measuring the quantities of
water obtained from such separate source of water supply subject to
the approval of the City. Authorized representatives of the City shall
be allowed free access to such premises at all reasonable hours for
the purpose of reading or inspecting such meter or meters.
The owner or occupant of any premises served by a commercial
or industrial service connection, on which premises appreciable quantities
of water are used or consumed, but are not discharged into the sewerage
system, may, at his own option and expense, provide for the separate
measurement of water so consumed, but not discharged into the system.
If the City shall find the manner of segregation and measurement of
water so consumed, but not returned to the sewerage system, to be
satisfactory, the quantities of water so determined shall be deducted
from the total quantities of water consumed or used on such premises
for the purpose of determining sewer charges. Authorized representatives
of the City shall be allowed free access at all reasonable hours for
the purpose of reading meters and inspecting the manner of segregation
and measurement of water consumed.
In the event there are certain commercial or industrial connections
which discharge sewage into the sewerage system or chemicals in such
an amount as to make the above rates inapplicable for the purposes
of establishing a reasonable and proper sewerage service charge herein,
a commission shall hereby be established for the purpose in such cases
of recommending a basis for the establishment of the charge in keeping
with the aforesaid purposes. The members of the commission shall be
the City Clerk, the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the Sewerage
Treatment Plant Committee of the City Council. Upon determining the
facts of each specific case, the said commission shall make recommendations
to the City Council by submitting a resolution to the same for adjustment
of the charges, and the rates shall be adjusted upon the passage of
the resolution by the City Council, the same requiring a majority
of votes of the members thereof. These exceptions shall be revised
each year and recomputed if necessary.
[Ord. No. 2018-877, 4-16-2018; amended by Ord. 2018-878, 5-21-2018, eff. 6-1-2018; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-996]
(A)
All charges for sewerage service should accrue monthly on the
first day of each month. The owner of the premises, the occupant,
or the user of the sewerage system shall be jointly and severally
liable to pay for the service on the premises, and the service is
furnished to the premises by the City only upon the condition that
the owner of the premises, the occupant, or the user of the service
are jointly and severally liable for the payment of all charges to
the City. All monthly bills for services shall be rendered as of the
first day of the previous month for which the service is billed, and
shall be payable not later than the close of business on the 20th
day from the date of the bill. An additional charge in the amount
of $5 shall be added to any bill not paid by the 20th day after the
date that the bill is rendered. An additional penalty of $25 per month
shall be added for so long as the bill remains unpaid, effective on
the 45th day after the original billing.
(B)
Constituents whose residential accounts are in good standing
can avail themselves of a discount of 10% if they pay a year in advance.
The window for a citizen of Lincoln to take advantage of the discount
shall be between receiving the February bill and that February bill's
due date. Once the due date of the February bill has passed a constituent
can no longer take advantage of the discount. It shall be the responsibility
of the constituent to proactively inform the Clerk's office if
they intend to take advantage of this program. This discount can only
be utilized with residential accounts.
[Ord. 2011-732, 11-7-2011]
In the event any charges for sewerage service, including the
additional charges and penalties as herein provided, are not paid
within 30 days after rendition of the bill for such service, such
charges shall be deemed and are declared to be delinquent and thereafter
such delinquencies may constitute liens upon the real estate for which
the services are supplied, and the City Clerk is authorized to file
sworn statements showing such delinquencies, including all charges
and penalties as herein provided, in the Office of the Recorder of
Deeds of Logan County, Illinois, and the filing of such statements
shall be deemed notice for payment of such charges.
If the rates or charges for sewerage service are not paid within
90 days after the rendition of the bill for such services, such services
may be discontinued without further notice. In the event that services
are discontinued, said service shall not be reinstated until all outstanding
charges, penalties, and costs of termination of service and reinstatement
of the same are paid in full. The City Council of the City of Lincoln
may also contract with the owner of the water company serving the
City of Lincoln, as provided by Illinois law, to terminate water service
to any property where sewer charges are delinquent for a period of
90 days after the rendition of the bill for such services. In the
event water services are discontinued, said services shall not be
reinstated until all outstanding charges, sewer charges, penalties,
and costs of termination of service paid or due from the City to the
owner of the water company and reinstatement of the same are paid
in full.
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
It is hereby made the duty of the City Clerk to render bills
for sewerage service and for all rates and charges in connection therewith
and to collect all monies due thereon.
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
All revenues and monies derived from the operation of the sewerage
system shall be held by the Clerk separate and apart from all other
funds of the City, and all of said sums, without any deductions whatever,
shall be delivered to the City Treasurer not more than 10 days after
receipt of the same, or at such more frequent intervals as may from
time to time be directed by the City Council.
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
The City Treasurer shall receive all revenues from the sewerage
system and all other funds and monies incident to the operation of
such system as the same may be delivered to him and deposit the same
in a separate fund designated as the "Sewerage Fund" of the City,
and said Treasurer shall administer such fund in every respect in
the manner provided by statute.
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
The City shall establish a proper system of accounts and shall
keep proper books, records and accounts in which complete and correct
entries shall be made of all transactions relative to the sewerage
system, and at regular annual intervals the City shall cause to be
made an audit, by an independent auditing concern, of the books to
show the receipts and disbursements of the sewerage system.
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
A copy of this chapter properly certified by the City Clerk
shall be filed in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Logan County,
Illinois, and shall be deemed notice to all owners of real estate
of the charges of the sewerage system of said City on their properties.
[Ord. 685, 10-20-2008]
The United States Environmental Protection Agency or its authorized
representative shall have access to any books, documents, papers and
records of the City which are applicable to the City system of user
charges for the purpose of making audit, examination, excerpts and
transcriptions thereof to ensure compliance with the terms of the
special and general conditions to any Federal grant.
