(a) 
Meters for the measurement of utility services furnished by the city shall be furnished and installed by and shall remain the property of the city.
(b) 
Should any consumer demand a meter be tested for accuracy, he shall deposit with the city water department a sum of money as established by the city council. If the test shows that the meter is registering within the warranty of the meter manufacturer or is registering less water than is actually used, the deposit shall become the property of the city; otherwise, the deposit shall be refunded to the user.
(c) 
Should any meter fail to register correctly the amount of water used by a customer since the previous reading, the water utilities department shall have the right to average the monthly charge for water on the basis of any three months’ average; provided, however, that the months used for the purpose of making the average shall be comparable to the months in which the water is used.
(d) 
The city manager shall have the authority to decide any question which may arise and which is not fully covered by any of the provisions of this article, and he shall have the right to fix and determine any water rate, and his decision in such cases shall be final, subject to modification by ordinances enacted by the city council.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-34; 1998 Code, sec. 130-41; 2013 Code, sec. 60-114)
Applicants for water and/or sewer service shall be required to pay to the city a security deposit to guarantee all amounts that may become due to the city for water and/or sewer service, which charges shall be an amount estimated by the city manager or his designee to be equal to the charges for an average two-month period for similar types of occupancy but in no event to be less than the amount as established by the city council for each dwelling unit or commercial occupancy.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-35; 1998 Code, sec. 130-42; 2013 Code, sec. 60-115)
Refunds of deposits made for utility service shall be made upon the termination of such utility service only after payment of all indebtedness to the city for such utility service. Application of the deposit may be made in partial or total settlement of accounts when the supply is cut off for nonpayment of the bill, or for any infraction or violation of any ordinance, rule or regulation of the city relative to utility services offered by the city.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-36; 1998 Code, sec. 130-43; 2013 Code, sec. 60-116)
(a) 
Residential rate.
A residential rate for water is to be charged single-family residential units and to each separately metered residential unit of all other residential dwellings.
(b) 
Commercial rate.
A commercial rate for water is to be charged to all commercial users.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-37; 1998 Code, sec. 130-44; Ordinance 2010-12-001, sec. 2, adopted 12/7/10; 2013 Code, sec. 60-117)
All bills for utility service furnished by the city shall be due and payable prior to midnight of the due date on the receipt of such bill; provided, however, that if such due date shall fall on a Sunday or a legal holiday observed by the city, then such bill shall be due and payable by midnight of the following business day.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-38; 1998 Code, sec. 130-45; 2013 Code, sec. 60-118; Ordinance 2013-10-005, sec. 2, adopted 10/15/13)
(a) 
In the event any consumer of utility service furnished by the city shall fail to pay his bill prior to midnight of the due date the following day a late charge of ten percent of the amount billed shall become immediately due and payable. Failure to receive a bill does not constitute a waiver by the city to charge a delinquent penalty or the customer’s obligation to pay for services provided.
(b) 
The foregoing provision shall not be applicable to a person over 60 years of age who has received a delay of payment pursuant to request until after the 25th day after the date of such bill.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-39; 1998 Code, sec. 130-46; 2013 Code, sec. 60-119; Ordinance 2013-10-005, sec. 3, adopted 10/15/13)
(a) 
Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, in the event bills for utility service shall not be paid when the same shall become due, the city shall have the right to disconnect and discontinue all utility services furnished by the city to the customer so in arrears.
(b) 
The foregoing shall not be applicable to a person over 60 years of age who has been granted a delay of payment until after the 25th day after the date of the bill.
(c) 
The city shall not disconnect utility services to a delinquent residential customer when that customer establishes that some person residing at that residence will become seriously ill or more seriously ill if services are discontinued. To avoid disconnection under these circumstances, the customer must provide a written statement from a physician to the utility prior to the stated date of disconnection. Service may be disconnected in accordance with subsection (a) of this section if the next month's bill and the past due bill are not paid by the due date of the next month's bill, unless the customer enters into a deferred payment plan with the city.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-40; 1998 Code, sec. 130-47; 2013 Code, sec. 60-120; Ordinance 2025-31 adopted 11/18/2025)
(a) 
Upon receipt by the city of notice of the filing of a petition in bankruptcy by any water and/or sewer customer, the city shall suspend the old account and place in those city records relating to the suspended account a notice that no attempt be made to collect on the account any charges for water, sewer or garbage service unpaid as of the date of the bankruptcy filing. The city shall secure an actual water meter reading within ten working days after receipt of the notice of bankruptcy to be used as a cutoff of the suspended account and for the initial reading of the new account. If the city is unable to secure access to the premises for an actual reading, the city may estimate the initial reading on the new account from consumption information contained in the last bill sent prior to bankruptcy filing.
(b) 
In addition, the city shall, upon receipt of notice of the filing of the petition in bankruptcy by a water and/or sewer customer, send a written notice to the representative of the bankrupt estate that a deposit is required to be made with the water and sewer department as security for continued service. Said deposit shall be made within 20 days after notification to the representative of the bankrupt estate for each residential dwelling unit or commercial occupancy of two months’ average monthly bills calculated from the previous one year of service to such premises.
(c) 
Any bankrupt estate which does not make the required deposit within the 20 days shall be subject to discontinuation of service.
(d) 
In no event shall any person seeking relief from the bankruptcy court have service discontinued with respect to bills outstanding prior to filing of bankruptcy.
(e) 
Any bankrupt estate which makes a timely deposit, but which does not thereafter make timely payments, shall be subject to receiving turnoff notices, and may have service discontinued as any other customer. The deposit required herein shall be used toward payment of any bill for amounts accrued after the date of the bankruptcy. The deposit required herein may be made only by cash, certified checks and money orders.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-40.1; 1998 Code, sec. 130-48; 2013 Code, sec. 60-121)
In the event that utility service is disconnected or a meter has been cut off for nonpayment of the bill, the consumer thereof shall have the right to have the same reconnected or turned on only upon the payment of the outstanding charges and in addition thereto a reconnection or service activation fee as established by the city council. If the customer has turned on the meter after the city has shut it off or if reinstallation of a water meter at such location is necessary, an additional fee as established by the city council shall be immediately payable to the city.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-41; 1998 Code, sec. 130-49; 2013 Code, sec. 60-122)
Consumers wishing to discontinue the use of any utility service shall give written notice thereof at the city hall. Failure to do so shall render them liable for the payment of all bills until such notice has been given.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-42; 1998 Code, sec. 130-50; 2013 Code, sec. 60-123)
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 any rate other than the rate so fixed and approved.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-43; 1998 Code, sec. 130-51; 2013 Code, sec. 60-124)
(a) 
Tapping charges for all water meter installations shall be as established by the city council.
(b) 
All charges made for taps in excess of one inch in diameter shall be upon a cost plus ten percent basis, such estimate to be based on tabor and material cost to the city as well as for any necessary resurfacing of street.
(c) 
All water taps shall be placed no further than three feet from the face of the curb.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-43.1; 1998 Code, sec. 130-52; 2013 Code, sec. 60-125)
The following schedule of rates per month or a fraction thereof shall be the basis for determining charges to all customers for rendering sanitary sewer services, where sewage produced by such customer is normal sewage and where such customer is located entirely within the city:
(1) 
A monthly service charge shall be paid by all residential customers.
(2) 
A minimum monthly service charge shall be paid by all commercial customers, which shall include the first 5,000 gallons of water used or wastewater produced, as more specifically set forth hereinafter.
(3) 
A monthly volume charge shall also be charged to all customers, per 1,000 gallons of water used or wastewater produced, as more specifically set forth hereinafter.
(4) 
The monthly volume charge for residential class customers will be based on the individual customer’s average monthly water use during the previous winter quarter months of December, January and February, but in no event shall the volume used to compute this monthly charge exceed 15,000 gallons. The volumes used to compute these charges are based on the amount of water used by the residential customer, as measured by a meter. Where no previous winter quarter average is available from the records, the director shall estimate a volume not to exceed 6000 gallons per month per resident, or 15,000 gallons per living unit. The monthly charges to commercial and industrial class customers will be based on total water use as measured by appropriate water meters, with the provision that, if a customer can show to the satisfaction of the director of the waterworks department that a significant portion of the metered water usage does not enter the sanitary sewer system, the customer will be charged for only that volume entering the sewers, as determined by a method approved by the director.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-44; 1998 Code, sec. 130-53; 2013 Code, sec. 60-126; Ordinance 2013-10-003 adopted 10/15/13)
(a) 
All customers connected to the sanitary sewer system who have a source of water supply that is in addition to, or in lieu of, the city water supply, and is capable of and liable to discharge into the city sanitary sewer, in the judgment of the director, must have a meter approved by the city water department on that source of water supply. The volume charge as set forth hereinbefore shall be based on the sum of the volumes delivered by all sources of supply. Such method of volume determination shall not apply if the customer installs a meter approved by the city water department on the wastewater produced by the customer before it enters the city sanitary sewer.
(b) 
Multi-family (apartment) developments and mobile home or HUD-code manufactured housing parks without individual water meters shall be charged a rate equal to the residential sewer charge (without regard to water usage) multiplied by the number of residential dwelling units therein. This rate shall be applicable whether such customers are served by city water supply or not.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-45; 1998 Code, sec. 130-54; Ordinance 97-970039, sec. 1, adopted 3/18/97; 2013 Code, sec. 60-127)
(a) 
The portion of the building sewer known as the sewer tap and that portion known as the sewer service lateral shall be constructed only by city forces or by a contractor employed or approved by the city. Such construction shall be in accordance with the general specifications of the city water department. The plumber or other person seeking to connect to a city sanitary sewer shall apply for a sewer tap and/or sewer service lateral at the office of the water department. The plumber shall obtain a written description or sketch from the office of the water department showing the approximate location of the sanitary sewer serving the property, and the water department, upon application, shall furnish such written description or sketch to the plumber and to the plumbing inspector. Charges for construction of a sewer tap and/or service lateral shall be due and payable when the application is made.
(b) 
There will be charges as established by the city council for a sewer tap and/or sewer service lateral of the size eight inches or less, to be installed by city forces.
(c) 
There will be charges as established by the city council for street repair to permanent type paving, including concrete, hot mix or flexible base and penetration type paving described as water tap and sewer tap and/or sewer service lateral.
(d) 
Charges for all taps of any size installed by a contractor employed or approved by the city, and charges for sewer taps exceeding eight inches installed by city forces, shall be the installation cost of materials, equipment and labor. Street and alley repair charges shall be paid in accordance with rates established by the director of the department of public works.
(e) 
If the sewer tap and/or sewer service lateral is installed by a contractor employed or approved by the city, the charges shall be the actual cost of construction as established by the bid item in the construction contract.
(f) 
The charges set forth in this section shall be in addition to the applicable fee or fees provided for in the city plumbing code. No plumbing permit for work which involves the construction of the sewer tap and/or sewer service lateral shall be issued until the charges have been paid and a receipt evidencing such payment is presented to the person issuing the plumbing permit.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-48; 1998 Code, sec. 130-56; 2013 Code, sec. 60-129)
(a) 
In cases where the city council has ordered an unimproved street to be paved and such unimproved street contains existing water or sewer mains but no sanitary sewer, and water taps have been extended to one or more of the abutting lots, in order to prevent future paving cuts the city waterworks department is authorized to install or cause to be installed a sanitary sewer tap or water tap to connect the water or sewer mains to each such lot.
(b) 
The city waterworks department is authorized to make a charge according to the schedule determined by the director against the owner of each abutting lot served by each water tap constructed.
(c) 
The city waterworks department is authorized to make a charge against the owner of each abutting lot served by each sewer tap and/or sewer service lateral constructed.
(d) 
If the applicable charges for water or sanitary sewer taps installed hereunder are not paid prior to the date such street is improved by paving, an additional fee as established by the city council shall be charged for each water or sanitary sewer tap. These charges shall be payable at the time the property is connected to the water or sewer line of the city.
(e) 
For the purpose of this section, the term “sanitary sewer tap” means a connection to a public sanitary sewer located in a public street and extended to a point approximately three feet behind the curbline adjacent to the property served thereby.
(1976 Code, sec. 32-49; 1998 Code, sec. 130-57; 2013 Code, sec. 60-130; Ordinance adopting 2021 Code)