The town council shall establish rates to be charged water users of the town water system. Such rates shall be published in the fee schedule as set out in appendix A of this code.
(1998 Code, sec. 51.03)
(a)
The town council shall establish the service fees for installation of new service and other services for water users. The fees to be charged shall be determined on the basis of service as listed below and published in the fee schedule as set out in appendix A of this code.
(2)
Supplying and setting of a replacement meter box where the previously
installed meter box is damaged. If a meter box cannot be located,
its replacement will be considered new service.
(3)
Supplying and connecting a water meter.
(4)
Reconnection of water service after water service has been terminated
for failure to pay for water service.
(5)
Reconnection or reinstatement of water service after termination
of water service for an unauthorized connection or tampering with
a water connection or meter.
(b)
The service fees do not include materials other than the water line
between the tap and the meter box for a distance not to exceed ten
linear feet. Installation of taps on a water main may only be performed
by an authorized employee or agent of the town, or the installation
must be observed and inspected by an authorized employee or agent
of the town.
(1998 Code, sec. 51.04)
The town council shall establish a service charge to be charged for the installation of a meter where there has previously been service and all connections are available, and such charge shall be published in the fee schedule as set out in appendix A of this code.
(1998 Code, sec. 51.05)
If the water service is discontinued because of the failure to pay a water statement, the town council shall establish a charge to be paid before water service will be reinstalled, and such charge shall be published in the fee schedule as set out in appendix A of this code.
(1998 Code, sec. 51.06)
The town council shall establish deposit fee regulations for water service users. Such regulations and required deposit shall be published in the fee schedule as set out in appendix A of this code.
(1998 Code, sec. 51.07)
(a)
All water statements shall be payable to the town and shall be due
15 days after billing. All water statements not paid by the fifteenth
day shall incur an additional late payment charge. The amount of such
late payment charge shall be published in the fee schedule.
(b)
Disconnection for late payment.
(1)
It is the policy of the town to discontinue utility service to customers
by reason of nonpayment of bills only after notice and a meaningful
opportunity to be heard on disputed bills. The town’s form for
application for utility service and all bills shall contain, in addition
to the title, address, room number, and telephone number of the official
in charge of billing, clearly visible and easily readable provisions
to the effect that:
(A)
All bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on
the bill;
(B)
If any bill is not paid by or before that date, a second bill will
be mailed containing a cutoff notice that, if the bill is not paid
within ten days of the mailing of the second bill, service will be
discontinued for nonpayment; and
(C)
Any customer disputing the correctness of his or her bill shall have
a right to a hearing at which time he or she may be represented in
person and by counsel or any other person of his or her choosing and
may present orally or in writing his or her complaint and contentions
to the town official in charge of utility billing. This official shall
be authorized to order that the customer’s service not be discontinued
and shall have the authority to make a final determination of the
customer’s complaint.
(c)
Requests for delays or waiver of payment will not be entertained;
only questions of proper and correct billing will be considered. In
the absence of payment of the bill rendered or resort to the hearing
procedure provided herein, service will be discontinued at the time
specified, but in no event until the charges have been due and unpaid
for at least 30 days.
(1998 Code, sec. 51.08)
If a resident should turn on water from the system or tamper
with a meter, it shall be cause to terminate certain service. On resumption
of water service the user shall pay the above-stated reconnection
charge.
(1998 Code, sec. 51.09)
(a)
A person commits an offense of theft of water by any of the following
actions:
(1)
A person may not knowingly tamper, connect to, or alter any component
of the town’s water system including valves, meters, meter boxes,
lids, hydrants, lines, pump stations, ground storage tanks, and elevated
storage tanks. This shall include direct or indirect efforts to initiate
or restore water service without the approval of the town.
(2)
If, without the written consent of the town manager or the town manager’s
designee, the person knowingly causes, suffers or allows the initiation
or restoration of water service to the property after termination
of service(s). For purposes of this section, it shall be assumed that
the owner, occupant, or person in control of the property caused,
suffered, or allowed the unlawful initiation or restoration of service(s).
(3)
A person may not knowingly make or cause a false report to be made
to the town of a reading of a water meter installed for metered billing.
(4)
A person commits a separate offense each day that the person performs
an act prohibited by this section or fails to perform an act required
by this section.
(b)
An offense under this section is a class C misdemeanor punishable
by a fine of up to two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) and/or discontinuance
of water service by the town.
(Ordinance 2009-5-5A adopted 5/5/09)
