Institutional customer,
as used in section A6.009 of the fee schedule in appendix A of this code, means an entity including a hospital, prison, or public or private school (not including a preschool or day-care center), college, or political subdivision.
Minimum charge,
as used in section A6.009 of the fee schedule, means the minimum base charge to a city customer for water and sewer service which is determined by the size of the customer’s meter.
(Ordinance 440-2009 adopted 4/14/09; Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.01)
All premises using the city water supply must be equipped with an adequate meter furnished by the city under the hereinafter stated deposit and fee procedures. The city shall read, or cause to be read, every water meter used in the city at such times as are necessary that the bills may be sent out at the proper time. Under unusual circumstances or during an emergency the city may estimate the reading of meters. Bills for water use shall be dated and sent monthly, or at such times as may be directed by the mayor and city council.
(Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.02)
All persons–prior to use of water from the city water system–must place with the city a water meter/security deposit for each account or meter. Such water meter/security deposit amounts are set forth in section A6.004 of the fee schedule in appendix A of this code. All persons–prior to using of water from the city water system–must pay a nonrefundable service connection fee in the amount set forth in section A6.005 of the fee schedule.
(Ordinance 449-2009 adopted 6/23/09; Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; Ordinance 655-2014 adopted 4/22/14; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.03)
Refunds of deposits made for utility service shall be made upon the termination of such utility service after payment of all indebtedness to the city for such utility service. Application of the deposit may be made in partial or total settlement of accounts when the supply is cut off for nonpayment of the bill, or for any infraction or violation of any ordinance, rule or regulation of the city relative to utility services offered by the city.
(Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.04)
A customer may transfer their existing utility account and services, including deposit, charges for consumption, and personal information, to a new account for utility services. Transfers may only occur when the premises associated with the account to be closed are vacated and the customer requests that water be supplied to a different service address within the city’s service area. To complete a transfer the final bill from the account to be closed will be processed and posted to the new account. The deposit and any final balances will be transferred over to the new current account.
(Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; Ordinance 655-2014 adopted 4/22/14; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.05)
Except as otherwise set forth in this article, the city’s rates and charges applicable to water, sanitary sewer, and trash service are as set forth in article A6.000 of the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.06)
In addition to the deposit amount(s) and service connection fee(s) described in section 12.02.003 above, all persons–prior to tapping into the city’s water system or sewer system–shall be charged water and sewer tap fees in the amounts set forth in section A6.003 of the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance 231-2005 adopted 10/25/05; Ordinance 449-2009 adopted 6/23/09; Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.07)
All bills for utility services furnished by the city shall be due and payable, in full, prior to midnight of the due date shown on the utility bill or 15 days after the utility bills are mailed, whichever is later; provided, however, that if the final date for payment falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday observed by the city, then payment must be made prior to midnight of the following business day. Failure to pay a bill timely results in an additional charge as set forth in section A6.006 of the fee schedule in appendix A of this code. A customer with an unpaid bill will be notified of same in accordance with section 12.02.009.
(Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.09)
Water, sewer, and garbage collection services to any customer are subject to discontinuation after 10 days from the date the bill is due and payable, if not paid in full. The following policies will be followed by the city regarding discontinuation of services for nonpayment:
(1) 
When it becomes necessary for the city to discontinue utility service to a customer for nonpayment of bill, service will be reinstated only after all bills for service then due and reconnect charges have been paid and any required deposit(s) have been made.
(2) 
It is the policy of the city to discontinue utility service to customers by reason of nonpayment or insufficient payment of bills only after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard on disputed bills. The notices sent to the customer must substantially state the following:
(A) 
The full amount past due, the scheduled date of termination of service for failure to pay, and the deadline for delivering to the finance director a written request for a hearing; and
(B) 
That if timely requested in writing there shall be a hearing at which the customer bears the burden of proving with respect to the disputed bill that the customer has timely paid for all utilities furnished to the customer’s premises and that, at the hearing, the customer may appear in person or be represented by any person of the customer’s choosing and may present orally or in writing any relevant proof and contentions to the finance director.
(3) 
The written notice may, at the discretion of the finance director, either be mailed first class, or it may be placed on the front door of the main structure at the customer’s address, or as close thereto as feasible.
(4) 
The finance director shall be authorized to and may overrule the customer’s contentions or may order that the customer’s service not be discontinued and the finance director shall otherwise have the authority to make a final determination of the customer’s complaint.
(Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; Ordinance 655-2014 adopted 4/22/14; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.10)
(a) 
In the event that utility service is disconnected for nonpayment of the bill, the customer shall have the right to have the same reconnected only upon the payment by the customer of all outstanding utility charges owed to the city, plus a reconnection fee if the request is during normal business hours. If the water is turned back on without payment or without the city’s authorization, the meter is subject to being removed or locked by the city, and there shall be an increased reconnection fee. If the payment and request is outside of normal business hours an additional amount shall be added to the reconnection fees described above. All charges due under this subsection must be paid by check or money order payable the city and no cash shall be accepted.
(b) 
In the event that utility service is temporarily disconnected at the request of the customer, a service charge shall be added to the account for disconnection and reconnection of utility service during normal working hours of the city. If the request is outside of normal business hours an additional fee shall be added to the account.
(c) 
If a water customer’s meter has been cut off due to nonpayment and the customer pays all amounts due during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., including any additional charges such as late penalties, the public works department of the city will make reasonable efforts to turn the customer’s water on that same day or as reasonably soon thereafter as is practicable under the circumstances.
(d) 
The public works employee who reconnects water service will make reasonable efforts to insure that water is not running on the customer’s side of the meter when the reconnection is made. If the water meter indicates that water is running on the customer’s side of the meter, the employee will discontinue water service by turning off the meter. The customer is then responsible for contacting the city to reconnect the service.
(e) 
The amounts of the fees and charges referenced under subsections (a) and (b), above, are set forth in section A6.007 of the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; Ordinance 655-2014 adopted 4/22/14; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.11)
Customers wishing to discontinue the use of any utility service shall give written notice thereof at the city hall. Failure to do so shall render them liable for the payment of all bills until such notice has been given.
(Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.12)
The city council shall fix and approve the rates charged by any private owned public utility company franchised by the city and doing business within the city. It shall be unlawful for any such public utility company or any officer or employee thereof to assess or charge for services rendered any rate other than the rate so fixed or approved.
(Ordinance 112-2003 adopted 11/12/03; Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.13)
(a) 
Though it is the responsibility of every customer to keep their water service lines in a state of good repair, leaks do occur, and the city recognizes that an undetected leak can have a significant financial impact on a customer who experiences one. At the same time, the city has costs associated with the delivery of treated water to each customer. The costs of treating the water and maintaining the water infrastructure are recovered from customers through the assessment of certain set water rates. The city, weighing both the costs of supplying the water to each customer and the city’s desire to assist customers with the financial burden caused by certain water leaks, has established this policy.
(b) 
A customer who incurs charges on their utility bill as a result of a water leak that was not reasonably detectable and that was caused through no fault of the customer may take advantage of this forgiveness policy only once during a 36-month period, as indicated in the city’s billing records.
(c) 
The customer taking advantage of this policy must meet these requirements before staff can grant the forgiveness:
(1) 
An affidavit, sworn to by the customer and notarized, must be provided to city staff that details that the leak occurred, where the leak was, how it was detected, when it was detected, how it was caused (if able to be determined), how it was repaired and when it was repaired.
(2) 
Along with the affidavit, if the leak was repaired by a licensed plumber, a copy of a detailed receipt must be supplied. Or, in the event the customer fixed the leak themselves, a copy of the receipt for any hardware/plumbing supplies must be attached.
(d) 
Upon receipt of the required documents, the utility billing section will then take the average of both the water and sewer side of the customer bill for the three previous months, added to the current month, and compute the bill as it is done below:
(1) 
The water leak forgiveness formula is based on an average of the previous three months, including the leak month (per the city’s most currently adopted water and sewer rates).
Example: January - $18.00
February - $18.00
March - $26.00
April (leak month) - $230.00
AVG: $73.00
(2) 
The sewer side of the utility bill is also addressed in the same manner.
Example: January - $18.00
February - $18.00
March - $26.00
April - $52.00 (sewer use capped at this level)
AVG: $27.75
(3) 
The two averages are then added together to total the customer’s bill for the month during which the leak occurred, in this case, $100.75. Note: Without this policy, the customer’s utility bill would have totaled $282.00 for the leak month.
(e) 
A customer who does not have three previous months of water service will have all existing charges on their account as a customer, whatever length of time that may be, added to the current bill to establish their average.
(Ordinance 98-14 adopted 10/27/98; Ordinance 361-2008 adopted 2/12/08; Ordinance 476-2009 adopted 11/10/09; 2008 Code, pt. II, art. 49, sec. 7.18)