(a) 
Each customer desiring service from a utility furnished by the city must make application for service by appearing in person at the city hall during normal operating hours and furnishing the information requested by the city manager and pay the applicable deposit and account initiation fee.
(b) 
The city council shall establish by resolution a reasonable rate and deposit for providing water service for customers of such service. The city council, in establishing such fee, shall consider the cost of capital, maintenance and operation, debt service, replacement cost, purchase of water or other goods and services, as well as labor and administrative costs.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.070; Ordinance 11-059 adopted 9/12/11)
The city may refuse to furnish utility service to any person who may be in debt to the city for any reason, except for ad valorem taxes and special assessments.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.071)
(a) 
All applicants for utility service will make a deposit for the security of payment which will remain with the city while the account is active. The amount of the deposit shall be provided in the city fee schedule.
(b) 
Deposits will be refunded or, in the event a balance is due, applied against the full bill for utility services when the customer notifies the city of intent to terminate service. Upon written request by a customer, the deposit can be applied to that customer’s account if the account is at least five years old and has no record of late payments for the latest 14 consecutive months. The city will not pay interest on meter deposit funds.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.072; Ordinance adopting Code)
In the event a customer moves to another residence within the city’s service area, a transfer fee will be charged and, if a larger deposit is required than the customer has in account, the difference must be paid.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.073)
Water meters will be read approximately 30 days apart and utility bills will be mailed to customers by the first day of every month. Bills become due and payable by the close of business day on the 15th day of every month.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.074)
A 10% late charge will be added to all amounts not paid by the 15th of the month and a second notice will be sent warning the customer of the possibility of termination of service.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.075)
(a) 
All active customers with utility bills that remain unpaid by 8:00 a.m. on the 26th day of each month shall have a delinquent account fee charged to the account for each billing cycle that the account remains unpaid, unless the customer has entered into a payment plan with the city for the unpaid amounts under subsection (d), and is in compliance with the payment plan.
(b) 
After 8:00 a.m. on the 26th day of the month, the city will terminate water service to any customer whose utility bill remains unpaid, unless the customer requests in writing prior to the termination of service a payment plan for the unpaid amounts under subsection (d), or a hearing before the city manager under subsection (e). Water service shall remain disconnected until the customer pays the full utility charges due, plus any penalties and the delinquent account fee(s).
(c) 
The city shall allocate a customer’s deposit toward the amount due on a utility billing account that is in arrears for two (2) months, and shall close the account and send a final bill. Payment on the account will be due on receipt of the bill. Any outstanding balance owed by a customer must be paid in full and a deposit paid before the customer may open a new account. The customer will also have to pay the applicable fees provided for under the city fee schedule.
(d) 
A customer may submit to the utility billing department in writing a request for a payment plan for overdue amounts owed for water services. The city will enter into special payment arrangements with a customer under the following conditions:
(1) 
The customer has not been assessed any delinquent fees or received a payment plan or special consideration during the twelve months prior to the request for a payment plan.
(2) 
In addition to timely paying the full amount for current water services, the customer agrees to pay the amount of any arrearage within twelve months. The minimum amount paid per billing cycle for arrearages shall be the greater of (A) one-twelfth of the amount of the arrearage at the time of the request for a payment plan, or (B) $50.00, except that the last payment may be a lesser amount. Alternatively, the customer may receive a 10-day extension on paying the full amount in arrearage.
(3) 
If approved, the customer shall enter into a written agreement for payment of the arrearages, which includes the specific payment terms for the amounts due and owed by the customer. Any breach of the payment provisions of the payment plan shall result in the immediate termination of water service, a delinquent fee assessed and closure of the account. Any outstanding balance owed by a customer must be paid in full and a deposit paid before the customer may open a new account. The customer will also have to pay the applicable fees provided for under the city fee schedule.
(e) 
Upon denial of payment arrangement request by the utility billing department, a customer may request a hearing before the city manager or his designee to explain the reason for nonpayment of a utility bill, and request a payment arrangement. The city manager or his designee may offer payment arrangements in extraordinary or special circumstances. In determining whether to offer alternative payment arrangements, the city manager or his designee should consider the customer’s account history, the nature and duration of the hardship, and the customer’s resources and ability to make payments. In the event of a medical emergency, for which the customer has provided proof, the city manager or his designee shall delay water service termination, and may waive the delinquent account fee.
(f) 
If a customer presents proof of payment of a utility bill that the city has identified as delinquent prior to the termination of water service, the city may not cease water service to the customer until the situation is investigated, and a determination is made regarding the payment.
(Ordinance 09-052, sec. 1, adopted 9/14/09)
The failure to receive a bill or second notice will not relieve the customer of the responsibility of timely payment of his account and will not negate any fees or penalties due.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.077)
A customer may request that the city reread a water meter if he feels the meter was read incorrectly. The meter can be read once every six months at no charge. Any customer requesting a reread above this amount will be charged the reread fee in the city fee schedule if the meter was read properly. If there was an error made by the city, the rate will not be charged.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.078)
Bills may be paid by cash, check, or money order. The city may refuse payment by check if, through experience or other information, they have reason to believe the check will not be honored at the customer’s bank.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.079)
Should the city receive notice that a customer’s check did not clear the bank due to insufficient funds (NSF), the account will be treated as though no payment was made and the NSF fee listed in the city fee schedule will be applied to the account.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.080)
(a) 
The city may adjust a utility bill for overbilling or underbilling when any one of the following occurs: failure to read the meter, misreading a meter, application of an improper rate schedule, or typographical or computational errors.
(b) 
If a customer of the city that is sixty-five (65) years of age or older has provided proof of the customer’s age and submitted a written request for a discount the city may provide a discount on the monthly utility bill for water, sewer and solid waste disposal, by resolution of the city council.
(Ordinance 11-030 adopted 6/13/11)
If any deadline listed in this article falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or city-observed holiday, the deadline will apply on the next available business day.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.082)
(a) 
A customer can apply for a short-term water account if the account is anticipated to be open for one week or less. The customer must pay the fee listed in the city fee schedule before water service is connected and inform the city at that time when service is to be disconnected. The service will be connected at the convenience of the city and only during business hours.
(b) 
The base bill and account establishment fee will not apply to a short-term water account. However, if more than 1,000 gallons of water are used, the customer will be responsible for paying the “additional 1,000 gallons” rate in the city fee schedule.
(2001 Code, sec. 51.083)