(a)
Before any water or garbage shall be supplied to any person or any
premises by the water or utility department, the owner or occupant
of the property shall make written application for such service upon
a form provided by the utility office manager, which application shall
contain a contract on the part of the applicant to pay the city for
the use and benefit of the water and/or utility department all charges
for such services. The applicant shall further agree to abide by all
current regulations of the city relating to such services. If such
application is for service to a residence, the name of the head of
the family in control of said premises shall be given, and if for
service to other than a residence, the names of the persons in control
of the premises or of the business conducted therein shall be given.
All applicants for service to office buildings must be signed by the
owner or agent.
(b)
Proof of identification in the form of a driver’s license,
identification card, or any other form of photo identification issued
by a state, national, or international government agency are required
at the time of application and must be submitted before utility service
will be provided. Letter of authorization, tax identification number,
corporate resolutions and copies of articles of incorporation, partnerships
or other corporate documents are required on all commercial accounts
before utility service will be provided. A copy of a consumer’s
lease or proof of ownership of the facility may be required before
services can be established.
(c)
Only the person or persons listed on the application for service
or listed on a letter of authorization from the applicant are authorized
to alter services on a utility account.
(Ordinance 17-020 adopted 4/25/17)
No permit for any connection with the water mains or service
lines of the water system shall be issued until such application is
accepted by the utility administration manager.
(Ordinance 05-088, sec. 1, adopted 7/26/05; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a)
In case any person shall move into any premises, he or she shall
file an application for water and garbage service in accordance with
the provisions of this division before using any water from the service
connections for such premises, or receiving garbage collection service.
(b)
In case any consumer shall change his or her place of residence or
business, he or she shall, within twenty-four (24) hours after such
change, give notice thereof to the utility office manager.
(Ordinance 05-088, sec. 1, adopted 7/26/05)
Any consumer who shall discontinue the place of business or
move from his or her residence and leave a bill for water service
or any other services due the utility office and shall make application
for service at some other address, either under his or her own name
or under a different name, without stating to the office the old address
and name under which water was used at the address where there is
a bill due, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ordinance 05-088, sec. 1, adopted 7/26/05)
If any person shall make any false statement in any application
for water service, he or she shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ordinance 05-088, sec. 1, adopted 7/26/05)
(a)
Minimum deposits; credit ratings.
(1)
At the time of making application for water or services incident
thereto to be provided by the city, a deposit shall be made with the
utility office of the city; the amount shall vary dependent upon the
applicant’s credit rating.
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Residential deposit amounts
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Good credit
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$0.00
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Fair credit
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Listed in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code
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Poor credit
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Sixty (60) days of estimated maximum cost with a minimum of 150% of fair credit amount listed in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code
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(2)
Applicant’s credit will not be checked without written permission
from the person/business whose credit is being checked. This written
permission will allow the utility administration manager to follow
up once each year with a credit check at the utility’s expense,
if deemed necessary while service is active. An individual’s
social security number will be required in order to pull credit history.
Applicant’s unwilling to give consent or supply their social
security number shall be charged the maximum deposit. Applicants choosing
not to have their credit checked shall pay the amount of the poor
credit. Adjustments to the deposit may be made at any time based on
information received from the credit history or actual account history.
(3)
Fair credit amounts.
The fair credit amounts are listed in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code.
(4)
Deposits shall be made as follows:
(A)
Residential deposits shall be made either:
(i)
In cash at the time of making application;
(ii)
Two-thirds to be billed at the time of making application and
the remaining to be billed on the first month’s billing; or
(iii)
An applicant for residential connection may present a letter
of credit from applicant’s most recent utility company which
represents a satisfactory payment history for at least twelve (12)
months preceding the date of application for services ending within
the past ninety (90) days. To be satisfactory, the letter of credit
must not indicate the applicant has been late paying more than two
(2) times during the period.
(B)
For commercial water connections, a service deposit shall be required which shall be based on the size of the water meter and equal to an estimate of the cost of sixty (60) days’ utility service, with a minimum deposit as provided in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code. For commercial utility accounts held in the name of a limited liability partnership, the service deposit required shall be equal to an estimate of the cost of ninety (90) days’ utility service, with a minimum deposit as provided in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code. The amount of the deposit shall be estimated by the utility administration manager or his or her authorized representative. Where billing figures for a comparable establishment are not available to establish the deposit for a commercial connection, the utility administration manager shall estimate a two-month billing based upon information received from the applicant.
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Commercial deposit amounts
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|---|---|
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Good credit
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$0.00
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Fair credit
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Amount equal to an estimate of the cost of sixty (60) days’
utility service.
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Poor credit
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150% of fair credit amount
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The utility office shall review the estimate after three months and will make the appropriate adjustment in the deposit amount at that time. In addition to a deposit on a commercial account, an inspection verification must be completed by the city planning office before utility service can be initiated. An inspection verification fee as provided in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code is required per unit.
(C)
Commercial deposits shall be made before any services are connected.
(D)
Any residential or commercial customer whose account has been active
for twenty-four (24) months, has not reached the nonpayment cutoff
list during that period, has not presented any nonsufficient funds
payments, and has not been advised of late payment more than twice
during that period, may have the deposit for water service be applied
to the account balance. The utility administration manager reserves
the right to reapply at least the “fair credit” deposit
should a customer receive more than two (2) late payment fees in a
twelve-month period.
(E)
Any residential or commercial customer reaching the nonpayment list
may be subject to at least the “fair credit” deposit being
applied to his/her account. Any customer late paying more than six
(6) times in the past twelve (12) month period and/or reaching the
cut off list two (2) times within a twenty-four (24) month period
may be subject to the “poor credit” deposit being applied
to his/her account. Customers failing to meet their obligation when
given an extension may have their deposits increased to the “poor
credit” level.
(F)
Requests for billing investigations and adjustments must be made
within sixty (60) days from the date of issuance and credit is limited
to sixty (60) days. No adjustments will be given for requests received
after the sixty (60) day period.
(G)
Any residential or commercial customer having paid his/her deposit or first bill with a nonsufficient funds check or other bank drafting instrument that is not honored by the bank or online pay service for any reason may be placed on “cash only” status as provided in section 20.03.006 of this code, and may be required to increase his/her deposits to the maximum level.
(b)
Construction deposits.
A construction deposit is defined as a builder’s deposit that is held by the city as a deposit against multiple projects. The master construction deposit is as provided in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code. Monthly billing shall be based on actual consumption times the per 1,000 gallons rate, but in no event shall the charge be less than as provided in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code per month per account established.
(c)
Fire hydrant meter deposits.
The deposit shall be as provided in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code. Fire hydrant meters must be city owned. Actual consumption shall be billed monthly. Minimum billing monthly shall be as provided in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code or actual consumption based on commercial rate scale, whichever is greater.
(d)
Solid waste service deposits.
At the time of making applications for solid waste services to be provided by the city’s solid waste hauler, a deposit shall be made with the utility office of the city, the minimum amount of which shall be as provided in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code.
(1)
For permanent commercial solid waste service, a deposit shall be required which shall be based on the estimated cost of sixty (60) days’ solid waste collection and disposal service, including the monthly rental fee, with a minimum deposit as provided in section A20.02.036 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code. The deposit shall be calculated based on the estimated number of hauls to be provided during any one sixty-day period.
(2)
For temporary solid waste service, a deposit shall be required, which
shall be based on the estimated cost of sixty (60) days’ solid
waste collection and disposal including the delivery and monthly rental
fee. The deposit shall be calculated based on the estimated number
of hauls to be provided during any one sixty-day period. The utility
manager or his or her authorized representative may authorize an alternative
method of deposit for temporary solid waste customers that have permanent
utility service already established with the city.
(Ordinance 17-037, ex. A, adopted 9/26/17)
Where an application is accepted for water service, for a business
or residence purpose, it shall be considered the bona fide residence
or business of the applicant and should water services be discontinued
for nonpayment of bills or for other infractions of this chapter,
no new application will be accepted from the owner, agent or any other
person to continue service in such place or any other place under
any other name, so long as such place or any other place is occupied
by the original applicant as the bona fide residence or place of business
of same, until after all bills and penalties, damages to waterworks
equipment and other service charges have been paid in full or some
form of agreement has been reached. Should water services be furnished
by anyone to a tenant, it shall be considered additional service to
the applicant and the provisions hereof apply in the same manner.
Upon receipt of information that this section has been violated, both
the original applicant and the person making such new application
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ordinance 05-088, sec. 1, adopted 7/26/05)
