Meters for the measurement of water utility services by the city shall be furnished and installed by and shall remain the property of the city, and the charges for water, based on the rates as set out in section 13.02.009, shall be determined by the amount of water used as measured by meters.
(2000 Code, sec. 25-31)
As security to guarantee the payment for all water and services
furnished by the city, a deposit shall be made with the utility accounting
department at the time of making application for water service. The
minimum amount of said deposit shall be as set forth in the master
fee schedule.
(Ordinance 19-3700 adopted 9/24/19; Ordinance
23-3746 adopted 5/23/2023)
(a)
The deposit shall be refunded to the depositor when he discontinues
city water use. All bills and accounts due the city for water service
must be paid first.
(b)
Such deposit guarantees payment of water, sewer, and sanitation service
accounts or damages to service connections or meters caused through
neglect, abuses or failure of the customer or his agents to use proper
care. The city may apply the deposit or any part thereof to the payment
of any such accounts when they become past due.
(c)
Customer’s failure to pay the water, sewer, and sanitation
bill when due is considered notice from the customer to discontinue
service and apply so much of the deposit as is necessary for the payment
of the then past due account.
(d)
Should a deposit or any part thereof be applied in payment of past
due accounts, service may not be reestablished until the deposit is
restored to the appropriate current amount.
(Ordinance 11-3563, sec. I (25-33),
adopted 9/27/11)
The rates and charges for the consumption of utility services
furnished by the city, as well as the charges and fees for connection
thereto, shall be as determined by the city council from time to time
and on file in the office of the city secretary.
(2000 Code, sec. 25-34)
(a)
The charges provided for by this chapter for the various classes
of service shall be payable monthly upon bills rendered by the waterworks
department.
(b)
The charges provided for in this chapter shall become delinquent
ten (10) days after said bill is rendered and as printed on the face
of the bill. The bill as rendered shall be the net amount of the bill.
All bills shall be considered rendered when sent to the customer by
the accounting and collections division of the utility department,
and the failure to receive any such bill by any consumer shall in
no manner relieve such consumer of the duty and necessity of paying
for water or sewer service under the terms specified in this chapter.
(c)
The net amount due may be paid on or before the past-due date printed
on the bill. All payments must be in the possession of the utility
accounting department by the 5:00 p.m. close of business on the past-due
date to prevent a penalty charge being assessed.
(d)
A one-time penalty as set forth in the master fee schedule shall
be assessed on all bills not paid on or before the past-due date printed
on the bill. All payments must be in the possession of the utility
accounting department by the 5:00 p.m. close of business on the past-due
date to prevent a penalty charge being assessed. The gross due, which
includes penalty, shall be the amount due after 5:00 p.m. on the past-due
date.
(2000 Code, sec. 25-35; Ordinance 23-3746 adopted 5/23/2023)
It shall be the duty of the director of finance, upon the failure
or refusal of any person, firm or corporation to promptly pay within
ten (10) days from date of delinquency any charge or charges levied
and assess under the term of this chapter, to discontinue such water
or sewer service and refuse further service to such person, firm or
corporation until said charges are paid or satisfactory arrangement
for payment have been made. The director may at his option extend
the payment time period for one additional month before discontinuing
such water or sewer service. To avoid additional charges for cut-off
services, such payment must be received by 5:00 p.m. the day before
the cut off-date. In addition, a fee as set forth in the master fee
schedule is hereby assessed for making a service call for the purpose
of cutting off service for failure on the part of the consumer to
pay water or sewer service or installment charges or for the purpose
of collecting a delinquent account or for both if both purposes are
accomplished in one service call. Until the account at the premises
where service is cut off is paid in full or until the consumer or
his agent has made arrangements satisfactory with the director of
finance to pay such amounts, such service shall remain cut off.
(Ordinance 09-3518, sec. 1 (25-36)
adopted 9/22/09; Ordinance adopting
Code; Ordinance 23-3746 adopted 5/23/2023)
Should collection be required for the purpose of collecting
a check given by the customer in payment of a water bill, said check
having been presented to the bank and bank having not honored said
check, a charge as set forth in the master fee schedule may be assessed.
(Ordinance 10-3536, sec. 1 (25-37),
adopted –/–/10; Ordinance 23-3746 adopted 5/23/2023)
The city council shall fix and approve the rates charged by
any private 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 at any rate other than the rate so fixed and
approved.
(2000 Code, sec. 25-40)
The city shall charge and collect, and every consumer of water
shall pay for the water furnished by the city to the consumer the
amounts calculated by application of the rates to metered readings
as provided for in the master fee schedule. This amendment is effective
by ordinance with the first billing of October 1, 2021 upon its passage
and publication as required by law.
(1)
The monthly rates to be charged for water furnished by the city for
all consumers, unless otherwise noted, are as set forth in the master
fee schedule.
(2)
All rates and charges for utility services shall be billed on one
bill. Payment of the amount due on such bill shall be in full for
the total amount billed. Partial payment will not be accepted without
prior approval from the water department.
(2000 Code, sec. 25-41; Ordinance 21-3721 adopted 9/28/21; Ordinance 22-3733 adopted 9/27/2022; Ordinance
23-3746 adopted 5/23/2023)
For the furnishing of sewer service and sewer connections by
the city, the city shall assess monthly rates as set forth in the
master fee schedule based on the following rate classes.
(1)
Residential rates.
(2)
Commercial rates. The commercial rate shall apply to all consumers
not described under residential rates. The maximum gallon cap available
to single-family dwellings shall not apply to commercial rates.
(3)
Should there be a residential or commercial establishment not using
city water, or using city water for only a portion of its total water
use, then the sewer rates shall be as set forth in the master fee
schedule based upon the estimated gallons of water used by said establishment,
the same to be arrived at on the basis that it is reasonable and fair
to both the resident or commercial establishment and to the city,
as approved by the director of finance.
(4)
A sewer charge shall not be applied to water meters which are exclusively
used for yard watering or an irrigation system. The director of public
works shall develop and administer an application procedure for exemptions
and said exemptions shall be renewed annually.
(5)
Any consumer who wishes to install sewer sampling and meter device
may do so if such meets city specifications and the consumer pays
acquisition and installation costs. The metering equipment shall become
city property and the city shall be responsible for maintaining such.
Said consumer shall be exempt from the above charges and shall pay
a minimum as set forth in the master fee schedule plus additional
charges based on quality as addressed in the city industrial waste
ordinance.
(6)
State prison rates.
(Ordinance 21-3721 adopted 9/28/21; Ordinance
22-3733 adopted 9/27/2022; Ordinance 23-3746 adopted 5/23/2023)
The charges for sewer service, refuse collection and vector
control shall be made monthly and shall be added to the water bill
of each residence, apartment house and commercial establishment connected
to the city’s water and sewer service. The person responsible
for the payment of the water bill shall also be responsible for the
payment of the charges for sewer service, refuse collection and vector
control.
(2000 Code, sec. 25-43)
Customers requesting service to be transferred from one address
to another will be charged a nonrefundable utility account transfer
fee as set forth in the master fee schedule.
(Ordinance 15-3625 adopted 9/17/15; Ordinance
23-3746 adopted 5/23/2023)
