The city hereby adopts the utility user fee policy and provisions as policy for the city.
(Ordinance 2016-28, ex. A, adopted 10/11/16)
The purpose of this policy is to establish policies and provisions and set fees to be charged for water and wastewater services within and outside the city, to residential, multifamily, commercial and industrial customers.
(Ordinance 2016-28, ex. A, adopted 10/11/16)
This policy applies to all direct connections to the city’s water and wastewater system, and to all initial installations of utility connections that fall under the city’s regulatory jurisdiction, regardless of whether the connection is located within the city’s certificated water service area, and regardless of whether the connection is for a residential, multifamily, commercial, industrial or other customer or user of the city’s water and/or wastewater system. If there is a conflict between any of the provisions contained within these documents or codes, the more restrictive provision shall apply.
(Ordinance 2016-28, ex. A, adopted 10/11/16)
For the purpose of this policy, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. Words or phrases not expressly prescribed herein are to be defined in accordance with other applicable ordinances of the city. In the absence of such ordinances, such words or phrases shall be in accordance with their customary usage in municipal government. For the purposes of this policy, wastewater and sanitary sewer have the same intended meaning and are thereby interchangeable.
Commercial customers.
Generally defined as customers whose business is primarily engaged in the sale of goods, commodities or services to consumers.
Customer.
Any person who receives water, wastewater or garbage pickup service from the city under either an express or implied contract requiring such person to pay the city of such service.
Dwelling unit.
A single unit providing complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
Fiscal year.
City annual operating budget year (October 1st through September 30th).
Industrial customers.
Generally defined as customers whose business is primarily engaged in manufacturing, processing, assembling or storing/distributing products or goods.
Inside customers.
Generally defined as customers who are connected to the water/wastewater system within the corporate limits of the city.
Multifamily customers.
Generally defined as customers with two (2) or more dwelling units served by a single meter.
Outside customers.
Generally defined as customers who are connected to the water/wastewater system outside of the corporate limits of the city.
Public facility.
A facility owned, leased or under the responsibility of the city.
Residential customers.
Generally defined as customers that are single-family or separately metered duplex dwelling units, or other premises containing dwelling units for which each unit is individually metered.
(Ordinance 2016-28, ex. A, adopted 10/11/16)
(a) 
Except as otherwise set forth, each individual residence must have its own meter. Sub-service from a metered line is not permitted. Metered water lines may not be extended to serve another separate residence or place of business.
(b) 
A secondary residence served by a water meter through the primary residence as of the effective date of this article may continue in this manner as long as both are on the same lot and under the same ownership regardless of any major repairs to the service line for the primary residence. The main water service shall not be branched. If the secondary residence is sold, replaced, or the property is divided, a new direct service line with separate meter shall be installed in accordance with these requirements.
(Ordinance 2016-28, ex. A, adopted 10/11/16)
(a) 
Application and deposit fees.
An application and deposit shall be required before water and/or wastewater service is provided on a new account. A nonrefundable service application fee and deposit shall be paid in accordance with the utility user fee schedule on file in the city secretary’s office. The deposit shall be held in a noninterest bearing account and applied to the final bill when the account is finalized. Any deposit balance remaining shall be refunded to the customer.
(b) 
Utility user fee schedule.
(1) 
Fees and other billing and operational charges shall be as provided for in the utility user fee schedule (on file in the city secretary’s office).
(2) 
All fees referenced in the following sections are specified on file in the city secretary’s office.
(Ordinance 2016-28, ex. A, adopted 10/11/16)
(a) 
Billing.
(1) 
All bills for utility services shall be rendered monthly in accordance with a schedule established by the city. The city shall exercise care in the delivery of utility bills, but is not responsible for the service provided by the United States Postal Service.
(2) 
Failure to receive a bill shall not relieve the customer for payment of services received and/or penalties assessed.
(b) 
Late fees.
All utility accounts shall be due upon receipt. Accounts shall be past due after the 15th day of the month. All accounts paid after the 15th day of the month will be assessed a late fee penalty.
(c) 
Reconnect fees.
Accounts not paid before the 25th day of the month following the due date shall be subject to having services discontinued and shall be charged a reconnect fee after payment is received by the city.
(d) 
Return check fee.
In the event that a customer’s check is not honored by the bank, a return check fee will be charged.
(Ordinance 2016-28, ex. A, adopted 10/11/16)
(a) 
Removal of water meters.
(1) 
The city water department shall have the authority to remove water meters for nonpayment of delinquent water bills when:
(A) 
The water meter has been turned off by the city water department;
(B) 
The meter subsequently is found to be turned on; and
(C) 
The meter has not been turned on by the city water department.
(2) 
Water service will not be reconnected until payment is made for the full amount of the delinquent bill or bills plus reconnect fee.
(b) 
Unlawful to open fire hydrant or tamper with any utility service.
It shall be unlawful for any person, not having the authority to do so, to open any fire hydrant or tamper with any utility service furnished by the city to consumers, or, in any other way to tamper, damage or trespass upon any equipment, facilities or premises belonging to the city that are connected with any utility service.
(c) 
Tampering fee.
(1) 
A tampering fee, plus costs incurred by the city for the repair or replacement of its equipment, shall be made to reconnect any meter that has been removed or otherwise illegally tampered with.
(2) 
For the purpose of this section, it shall be presumed that a person in whose name the water account is, or was, last billed, and who is receiving economic benefit of the water service, has knowingly tampered with city property if the water supply has been:
(A) 
Diverted from passing through a metering device;
(B) 
Prevented from being correctly registered by a metering device; and/or
(C) 
Activated by any device installed to obtain public water supply without a metering device.
(Ordinance 2016-28, ex. A, adopted 10/11/16)
A customer may request that their meter be tested for reading accuracy. If the meter is found to be reading within a tolerance of plus or minus two percent (± 2%), the meter will be deemed to be in satisfactory working condition. In such cases, the customer shall pay the city for the cost of the third party testing of the meter.
(Ordinance 2016-28, ex. A, adopted 10/11/16)