Division 3 Deposits, Rates and Charges

The water and sewer tap fees set forth in appendix A to this code shall be collected as applicable from the applicant before the corresponding water or wastewater system tap or connection is made.

Tap fees include the tap plus one hundred feet (100') of line. Additional charges will be charged for runs of over one hundred feet at a rate to be determined by the city manager.

§ 13.02.093 Security deposit; transfer of service.

All meters in excess of 2" must be provided for and maintained by the customer.

(Ordinance 2003-04-07-009, art. III, sec. 2, adopted 4/7/03; Ordinance adopting Code)

Deposit required.

All new customers of the water and/or sewer utilities shall be required to pay and maintain a security deposit in the amount of as set forth in appendix A to this code at all times that services are provided in the customer’s name. Disconnected accounts with a balance of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or more must pay the old balance and a deposit as set forth in appendix A this code before service is provided.

All customers requesting utility service shall personally sign the application for services and provide verification of name and current address (proof being in the form of a driver’s license or state department of public safety identification card and social security number) for billing.

(3)

In the event any utility customer’s service is disconnected for late payment, the city will apply the deposit to the deficiency and require full payment of any delinquent utility account, in addition to any reconnection fees and reinstatement of the full security deposit, prior to reinstatement and reconnection of utility services.

(4)

Security deposits shall remain with the city until termination of services.

Use of deposit; return of deposit; unclaimed deposits.

All utility deposits held with the city shall, in addition to securing the payment for utility services received, also secure and may be applied to any other debt or obligation owed the city by the person or entity having made the utility deposit. The remaining balance of any and all utility deposits collected by the city for water, wastewater or solid waste disposal shall be returned to the individual who secured the deposit in his or her name, at such time as such person terminates such utility service with the city. The deposit will first be applied to any outstanding utility or solid waste disposal bills, then to any additional outstanding debts to the city, and the remainder will be returned upon proper request and application. Additional outstanding debts of the individual seeking return of a utility deposit include but are not limited to:

(A)

Other utility services which have been provided under said person’s name and that have an outstanding balance due and owing to the city;

(B)

Any fire or other such city-operated services which have bills outstanding in such person’s name;

(C)

Liens placed by the city upon any property owned by such person; and

(D)

Any outstanding fees, charges, court costs, fines or warrants payable by such person by virtue of any record, action or proceeding in the municipal court.

No interest shall accrue or be due for any security deposits for water, wastewater or solid waste disposal.

(3)

An annual charge and fee as set forth in appendix A to this code, not to exceed the balance of the unclaimed utility deposit, is hereby established for each account that is required to be maintained by the city for and with respect to services, accounts and service addresses for which a customer abandoned or terminated utility service without contacting the city and closing such account or terminating service or otherwise providing the city with a forwarding address to which the balance of such utility deposit should be mailed. Upon any such customer entitled to receive a refund of any such utility deposit balance contacting the city and obtaining the refund, or the depletion of such remaining deposit balance, the account shall be closed.

(4)

Whenever the utility department applies a deposit to any outstanding debt or refuses to return a deposit, the individual seeking return of a deposit held in their name may appeal the decision to the city manager within ten (10) days from the date of the decision.

Transfer of service.

Any existing customer requesting a transfer of any utilities must maintain the appropriate deposit for the utility services being transferred. Any existing deposit, less deficiencies on the existing account, will be transferred directly to the new account. Any deficiencies in the prior utility account will also be transferred to the new utility account.

No customer will be allowed to transfer and maintain services without paying all deficiencies on existing or prior utility accounts in full and having the full deposit for utility services on deposit with the city at the time of transfer, but not later than the next complete billing cycle at the transfer location.

(Ordinance 2003-04-07-009, art. III, sec. 3, adopted 4/7/03; Ordinance adopting Code; Ordinance 2016-04-18-013, sec. 2, adopted 4/18/16)

§ 13.02.094 Rates for water service.

The following rates, fees and charges shall be charged and paid for water services within the city. Residential and commercial customers shall be charged the applicable minimum monthly rate per meter established herein as long as such meter is active, whether the customer actually uses the services or not; provided that, if the meter is removed or locked at the customer’s request, no minimum charge for service shall be assessed. In addition to other fees, a minimum monthly fee shall be assessed for meters at the rate indicated.

Rates inside and outside city limits.

The minimum monthly water service rates for inside and outside the city limits shall be as set forth in appendix A to this code.

§ 13.02.095 Rates for wastewater service.

Water districts.

(A)

Water rates for water supplied to all water districts with the exception of North Milam Water Supply Corporation shall be charged twenty-five percent (25%) over the minimum base meter rate and twenty-five percent (25%) over the per-thousand-gallon rate charged for residents of the city.

(B)

North Milam Water Supply Corporation. As stated per the original contract, North Milam Water Supply Corporation shall be charged an amount equal to residents of the city.

(C)

Outside city limit rates are established by point of use and not point of delivery.

(Ordinance 2004-05-03-11, secs. 2, 3, adopted 5/3/04; Ordinance 2005-09-20-002, secs. 2, 3, 4, adopted 9/20/05; Ordinance 2009-09-21-011, secs. 2, 3, 4, adopted 9/21/09; Ordinance 2010-09-20-016B, secs. 2, 3, 4, adopted 9/20/10; Ordinance 2011-09-19-011, secs. 2, 3, 4, adopted 9/19/11; Ordinance 2012-09-17-010, secs. 2, 3, 4, adopted 9/17/12; Ordinance 2015-01-05-013, sec. 2–3, adopted 1/5/15; Ordinance 2016-04-18-013, sec. 2–3, adopted 4/18/16)

Determination of usage.

Annually, during the month of March, and based upon the months of December, January and February, the city shall compute the monthly average water usage for each water customer (hereinafter referred to as the “average winter usage”). The average winter usage shall be thereafter utilized to calculate the consumption charge.

Rate structure.

The wastewater rates shall consist of a basic charge for the first 2,000 gallons, plus a volume charge per 1,000 gallons of water used over the 2,000 gallons based on the individual customer’s average monthly water use during the preceding winter months of December, January, and February, as set forth in appendix A to this code. For customers who do not have an established winter usage, the consumption charge shall be per month, in the amounts set forth in appendix A to this code, until a history of use may be established in accordance with (a) above.

§ 13.02.096 Rates for solid waste service.

Multiple units.

Separate permanent units, including but not limited to apartments, mobile homes, and duplexes, shall be billed at the minimum rate, per unit.

(Ordinance 2003-04-07-009, art. III, sec. 5, adopted 4/7/03; Ordinance 2016-04-18-013, sec. 7, adopted 3/7/16)

The city contracts with a private contractor to provide solid waste services. Rates will be negotiated with the private contractor from time to time and will be included in the contract documents as approved by the city council.

(Ordinance 2003-04-07-009, art. III, sec. 6, adopted 4/7/03; Ordinance 2012-09-17-010, sec. 7, adopted 9/17/12)

§ 13.02.097 Line extension and street cutting fees.

Applicability.

Water and wastewater taps will be made for the base tap fee provided the tap is made to a water or wastewater line abutting or adjacent to the lot or parcel to be served (standard location). For the purposes of this article, a tap made on a water or wastewater line located between the boundary line of the property to be served and the right-of-way line of the street or alley abutting such lot, or a line located within the right-of-way of such street between the property boundary line and the traveled paved portions of the street, shall also constitute a tap made at a standard location. A tap made at a standard location shall be a standard connection. A nonstandard location is any location for a tap to serve any lot, tract or parcel of land other than at a standard location. A nonstandard connection is any tap that requires work, construction or extensions to be made for the tap, or that is made at other than a standard location. Additional charges and fees will be assessed and collected as herein detailed for costs associated with line extensions and taps made to a nonstandard location.

Availability of service.

The existence of mains, trunk lines or other lines near a property will not constitute an obligation for the city to limit the tap fee or charge for making a water or wastewater service tap to such line where such lines must be tapped at other than a standard location, or are inaccessible due to necessary crossings of streets, highways, drainage channels and similar barriers, or when cost must be incurred over and above the cost for making a tap at a standard location. Taps at nonstandard locations must be arranged for with the director of public works in advance of the desired service date, to permit necessary extensions, crossings or similar construction.

Installation of lines by private contractor.

Upon the approval of the city manager, the owner or developer of a subdivision requiring a nonstandard connection may contract with a qualified contractor for the installation, construction and extension of any water or wastewater line necessary to make a nonstandard connection or as necessary for the location for the tap to become a standard location, and, in such event, such owner or developer shall pay the reasonable costs and charges therefor directly to the contractor and obtain a receipt and release from said contractor. The city shall otherwise, at the expense of the applicant for the tap, construct all line extensions and perform all construction required to make a water or wastewater tap at a nonstandard location. The city engineer or department of public works shall inspect such construction and work to assure it is completed in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of the city and the state commission on environmental quality.

(d)

Payment of costs.

The reasonable costs and expenses for installing, constructing and extending any water or wastewater line of the city to provide a tap at a nonstandard location, or to extend such lines to a standard location, shall be charged and collected by the city, if such costs are not paid directly by an owner/developer pursuant to subsection (c) above. Such additional costs and expenses shall be equal to the difference between the cost of making the tap at a standard location and the cost of making the tap at the nonstandard location, or, as the case may be, the difference between the cost of making the tap at a standard location and the costs incurred for the work and construction to extend the lines to a point or location that is a standard location for the tap.

(e)

Deposit or other security for payment of line extension fee.

When a water or wastewater line extension charge is required, the city may at its option require the owner being furnished the line to:

Deposit, in advance, the estimated costs for construction of the water or wastewater line that are estimated to be costs additional to a standard connection;