(a) 
All service applicants new to the city shall pay a $25.00 connection fee and a deposit of $100.00 for property owners and $150.00 for renters for water and sewer service. Applicants who are 65 years or older and can demonstrate a good payment record for the past 12-months' usage with the city or another utility will not be required to pay a deposit, nor will a deposit be required from existing customers with a good payment record as described by subsection (f) of this section. However, the city reserves the right to charge varying amounts of deposits for particular customers according to either their payment history with the city or their application documents submitted under the indigency program, per section 13.1004.
(b) 
Every service applicant who has previously been a customer of the utility and whose service has been disconnected for nonpayment of bills, meter tampering, bypassing of meter, or failure to comply with applicable state and municipal regulations will be required, before service is resumed, to pay a $25.00 reconnection fee and all amounts due the city. Prior to restoration of service, a deposit will be required for the current service address. If a service applicant, whose service was disconnected solely for nonpayment of bills, believes they qualify for fee waiver under the indigency program (section 13.1004), they may submit documentation per section 13.004(c) to request such waiver.
(c) 
A receipt of deposit shall be issued to each service applicant from whom a deposit is received. The city shall not be required to pay a customer interest on any deposit when it is refunded to the customer.
(d) 
The city will keep records to show:
(1) 
The name and address of each depositor.
(2) 
The amount and date of the deposit.
(3) 
Each transaction concerning the deposit.
(4) 
A record of unclaimed deposits shall be kept for seven years, thereafter transferred to the city.
(e) 
If service is not connected or after disconnection of service, the city will automatically refund the service applicant’s or customer deposit or the balance, if any, in excess of the unpaid bill for service.
(f) 
When a residential customer that was required to make the deposit has paid bills for service for 18 consecutive billing cycles, without being delinquent, the city will refund the deposit or credit the deposit to the customer’s bill. Deposits from customers who do not meet these criteria will be retained until service is terminated.
(Ordinance 2020-01-21 adopted 1/21/20; Ordinance 2023-11-20-02 adopted 11/20/2023)
(a) 
Bills for services shall be rendered monthly and shall be calculated according to the rates approved by the board of aldermen and the meter readings at the service locations (unless the city is authorized or finds it necessary to use estimates).
(b) 
The date the bill is posted to the mail is the date of its issuance. Bills will be past due if not paid by 5:00 p.m. by the 10th day after issuance (unless such day falls on a holiday or a weekend, in which case the time that the bill must be paid to prevent it from becoming past due is by 5:00 p.m. the next work day after the deadline).
(c) 
A customer whose bill is delinquent shall be charged a late fee of ten percent (10%). The late fee is a charge that is required to be paid, and if the customer pays the past due amounts, but does not pay the late fee, the bill will be considered delinquent and the customer subject to disconnection of service in accordance with this article. An additional late fee will not be charged for failure to pay a previous late fee. If a customer believes they qualify for fee waiver under the indigency program (section 13.1004), they may submit documentation per section 13.1004(c) to request such waiver.
(d) 
A record of bills mailed and their mailing dates will be maintained at the city offices.
(e) 
A deferred payment plan may be considered for delinquent accounts in special circumstances where a customer has unforeseen financial hardships due to medical or health conditions. The city administrator may approve a deferred payment plan where such special circumstances exist subject to the following conditions:
(1) 
The delinquency must be paid in full within months (3) months.
(2) 
All current bills must be paid prior to becoming past due.
(3) 
Persons with more than one disconnection in the prior twelve (12) month period will not be eligible for a deferred payment plan.
(4) 
A deferred payment plan must be requested before the 20th of the month.
(Ordinance 2004-09-13-3 adopted 9/13/04; Ordinance 2023-11-20-02 adopted 11/20/2023)
(a) 
Any customer who fails to pay the water and/or sewer charge billed to that person shall be subject to having his or her water and sewer service discontinued by the city. After the 10th day of the month in which a water or sewer bill remains unpaid, the city will assess the account with a late fee of 10% of the monthly total for unpaid services. After the 20th day of the month in which a water or sewer bill remains unpaid, a $25.00 disconnection fee shall in all instances be added to the customer's account, irrespective of whether the water and/or sewer service connection is actually disconnected. After the 20th day of the month in which a water and/or sewer bill and applicable delinquency fees remain unpaid, service is subject to disconnection. If a customer believes they qualify for fee waiver under the indigency program (section 13.1004), they may submit documentation per section 13.1004(c) to request such waiver.
(b) 
The city secretary or other designee shall enclose in each customer’s monthly water and/or sewer bill a notice that advises the customer of each of the fees described in subsection (a) above, and of the right of the city to disconnect utility service for nonpayment.
(c) 
Water and/or sewer service may be disconnected for any of the following reasons:
(1) 
Failure to pay past due service charges or failure to comply with the terms of a deferred payment agreement.
(A) 
Payment by check which has been rejected for insufficient funds, closed account, or for which a stop payment order has been issued is not deemed to be payment to the city.
(B) 
Payment at the city’s office is considered payment to the city.
(C) 
The city is not obligated to accept payment of a bill when a city employee is at the location of service to disconnect service.
(2) 
Violation of the city’s rules pertaining to use of water and/or sewer service in a manner that interferes with the service of others.
(3) 
Operation of non-standard/non-conforming equipment if a reasonable attempt has been made to notify the customer and the customer has been given a reasonable opportunity to remedy the situation.
(4) 
If operation of the customer’s water or sewer system threatens the public health, safety, or welfare or contamination of water supplies or the environment.
(5) 
Failure to comply with deposit requirements of this article.
(6) 
Any other reason allowed by law.
(d) 
A disconnection shall be preceded by notice as required under subsection (b) above, except that inapplicable provisions may be so noted. If the potential disconnection is for a reason other than failure to pay past due charges and fees, the notice shall set out that reason in sufficient detail to put the customer on notice of what must be done to remedy the situation and avoid termination of service.
(e) 
Disconnection may be carried out by the city without prior notice for the following reasons:
(1) 
Where a known and dangerous condition related to the type of service provided exists. Where reasonable, given the nature of the reason for disconnection, a written notice of the disconnection, explaining the reason service was disconnected, shall be posted at the entrance to the property, the place of common entry or upon the front door of each affected residential unit as soon as possible after service has been disconnected.
(2) 
Where service is connected without authority by a person who has not made application for service.
(3) 
Where service has been reconnected without authority following termination of service for non-payment.
(4) 
In instances of tampering with the city’s meter or equipment, bypassing the same, or other instances of diversion of services.
(f) 
A reconnect processing fee of $20.00 will be charged to the customer for restoring service if service has been physically disconnected, where the city has attempted to disconnect service and the customer has prevented the disconnection by some means, or where a city employee has actually been dispatched to the customer's service address to disconnect services. If a customer believes they qualify for fee waiver under the indigency program (section 13.1004), they may submit documentation per section 13.1004(c) to request such waiver.
(g) 
A customer who believes that the billing on which the disconnection is warned, or other basis on which a disconnection notice has been received, is incorrect may request a hearing before the city administrator in writing within the 10-day period. If a hearing is requested, service shall not be disconnected until the city administrator holds the hearing with the customer, and then only if the city administrator finds that the disconnection should proceed.
(Ordinance 2010-03-01 adopted 3/8/10; Ordinance 2023-11-20-02 adopted 11/20/2023)
(a) 
If a service applicant or customer is assessed water or wastewater reconnection fees or late payment costs under sections 13.1001(a), 13.1001(b), 13.1002(c), 13.1003(a) or 13.1003(f), such applicant or customer may provide documentation to the city outlined in subsection (c) to request waiver of such fees or costs.
(b) 
The board of aldermen may waive payment of all or part of such fees or costs, if the applicant- or customer-provided documentation shows that the applicant or customer is indigent or does not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the fine or costs, and such fees or costs were not assessed due to meter tampering or bypassing a meter.
(c) 
The documentation an applicant or customer requesting a waiver may provide must tend to show that:
(1) 
The applicant or customer's household income is less than 200% of the poverty guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in effect at the time of the determination, and the difference between the applicant or customer's monthly net income and reasonably necessary expenditures is less than $500;
(2) 
The applicant or customer or their dependents are eligible to receive food stamps, Medicaid, public housing, or benefits under a similar state, federal, or local program based on financial status; or
(3) 
The applicant or customer is serving a sentence in a correctional institution, is residing in a public mental health facility, or is the subject of a proceeding in which admission or commitment to such a mental health facility is sought; or
(4) 
Any other factors the board of aldermen may determine to be relevant.
(d) 
Board of aldermen shall make a written record of a determination made under this section and the reasons such determination was made and provide notice of such determination and adjusted fee owed, if any, to the applicant or customer at the address application, or another address if provided by applicant or customer.
(Ordinance 2023-11-20-02 adopted 11/20/2023)