The word “utility” shall be construed to mean and
include water, sewer, garbage, and/or any other utility service furnished
by the city to consumers thereof.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.56)
Any utility service furnished under the provisions of this article
shall be in accordance with and in compliance with all applicable
technical provisions of this article, federal and state laws, and
city ordinances, rules and regulations.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.57)
The city council shall have authority to establish by rule or
regulation such standards and specifications as may be deemed necessary
for the installation, construction and maintenance of any utility
service system owned or operated by the city within or without the
city and under the management of the city council. Such rules, regulations,
standards and specifications shall be filed in the office of the city
secretary.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.58)
Any authorized inspector of the city shall have free access
at any time to all premises supplied with any utility service by the
city for the purpose of examination in order to protect the utility
services from abusive use.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.59)
The city shall have the right to disconnect or refuse to connect
or reconnect any utility service for any of the following reasons:
(1)
Failure to meet the applicable provisions of law;
(2)
Violation of the rules and regulations pertaining to utility service;
(3)
Nonpayment of bills;
(4)
Willful or negligent waste of service due to improper or imperfect
pipes, fixtures, appliances or otherwise;
(5)
Molesting any meter, seal or other equipment controlling or regulating
the supply of utility service;
(6)
Theft or diversion and/or use of service without payment therefor;
and
(7)
Vacancy of premises.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.60)
The city shall not be liable for any damage to any customer
of any utility service furnished by the city due to backflow of the
sewer system, failure to supply, interruption to supply, interruption
of service or any other cause outside the direct control of the city.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.61)
Any person desiring any utility service furnished by the city
shall make application for the same in the city office. Such application
shall contain the applicant’s name and address and the uses
for which such utility service is desired.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.62)
The city may decline or fail or cease to furnish utility service
to any person who may be in debt to the city for any reason, except
ad valorem taxes and special assessments.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.63)
Approval of the application for any utility service by the city
office shall be deemed permission for such service.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.64)
All premises connected to any utility service of the city shall
be assumed to be using such utility service, and the owner or occupant
shall be charged therefor so long as such premises shall remain connected
with the utility service.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.65)
Any person permitted for the use of any utility service offered
by the city who shall use such utility service for any other purpose
other than mentioned in such permit or who shall make any unauthorized
changes in such service shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.66)
It shall be unlawful for a person, not having authority to do
so, to open any water hydrant or tamper with any utility service furnished
by the city to consumers, or to in any other way molest, damage or
trespass upon any equipment or premises belonging to the city connected
with any utility service.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.67)
The city reserves the right to cut off any utility service without
notice in case of emergencies. When an interruption of service is
necessary for the maintenance and improvement of the utility system,
affected customers will be notified as circumstances permit.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.68)
The city hereby reserves the right to at any time restrict or
prevent the use of any utility service furnished by the city during
periods of emergency or circumstances demanding such restriction or
prevention of use.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.69)
It shall be unlawful for any person to resell to others any
utility service obtained from the city except only by special arrangement
with the city council.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.70)
Connection for any utility service furnished by the city shall
be made only under the supervision of the city.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.71)
Every building, structure or consumer in the city shall have
a separate utility service connection, with the exception of pre-approved
structures such as dormitories, motels, hotels, apartment complexes,
and other type business with one person taking responsibility of the
total payment.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.72)
Any person who shall make any connection in any manner to any
utility system, whether owned by the city or not, without prior knowledge
and consent of the owner of such utility system shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.73)
No person, other than employees of the city, shall be authorized
to connect, turn on, turn off or disconnect any utility service offered
by the city, or remove, replace or repair any equipment connected
to any such utility service.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.74)
The consumer of any utility service furnished by the city shall
maintain and keep in good repair all connections, appliances and other
apparatus installed and used in connection with such utility service.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.75)
Meters for the measurement of water utility services by the
city shall be furnished and installed by and remain the property of
the city, and the charges for water, based on the rates as set out
herein, shall be determined by the amount of water used as measured
by meters.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.76)
As security to guarantee the payment of all water and services
furnished by the city, a deposit shall be made with the utilities
department at the time of making application for water service. The
minimum amounts shall be specified by the city council and posted
by the city secretary.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.77)
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.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.78)
The rates and charges for the consumption of utility services
furnished by the city, as well as the charges and fees for connection
thereto, shall be as determined by the city council from time to time
and on file in the office of the city secretary.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.79)
The charges provided for the various classes of service shall
be payable monthly upon bills rendered by the utilities department.
The charges provided for shall become delinquent fifteen (15) days
after said bill is rendered and as printed on the face of the bill.
The bill as rendered shall be the net amount of the bill. All bills
not paid by the fifteenth (15th), unless the 15th falls on either
a Friday or the day preceding a city-observed holiday, in which event
shall become delinquent on the first business day following the Friday
or observed holiday, shall be charged a ten percent (10%) penalty.
All bills shall be considered rendered when sent to the customer by
the utilities department, and the failure to receive any such bill
by any customer shall in no manner relieve such customer of the duty
and necessity of paying for water and sewer service under the terms
specified by the city. The city offers disconnect arrangements to
all customers upon request. Requests must be made prior to disconnection
of service and extensions can only be to the last day of the billing
month. Disconnect arrangements are not available for consecutive months.
In the event of emergency conditions, the mayor or city administrator
may approve further extensions.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.80; Ordinance 510 adopted 5/11/2023)
Upon the failure or refusal after five (5) days of the city
mailing of the notice of delinquency unless the termination date falls
on Friday or a day preceding an observed holiday in which event shall
be the following business day, of any person to promptly pay from
date of delinquency any charge or charges levied and assessed under
these provisions, the city may discontinue such water, sewer, or other
utility service and refuse further service to such person until said
charges are paid or satisfactory arrangements for payment have been
made. In the event service is reinstated upon the promise of the customer
to pay and must again be cut off because of failure on the part of
the customer to pay, an additional fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00)
may be assessed.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.81; Ordinance 510 adopted 5/11/2023)
Should collection be required for the purpose of collecting
a check given by the customer in payment of a utility bill, said check
having been presented to the bank and the bank having not honored
such check, a charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) may be assessed.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.82; Ordinance
adopting Code)
In any case where it becomes necessary to discontinue service
in order to enforce any of the provisions of this article, a charge
of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) shall be made and collected before
the utility service is turned on again. This charge shall be posted
by the city secretary and be in addition to any other charges due.
In the event a customer request reestablishment of services after
hours or on weekends or city-recognized holiday, an additional after-hours
charge of thirty-five ($35.00) shall be assessed.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.83; Ordinance
adopting Code; Ordinance
506 adopted 3/9/2023)
Consumers wishing to discontinue the use of any utility service
shall give notice thereof at city hall. Failure to do so shall render
them liable for the payment of all bills until such notice has been
given.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.84)
The city council shall fix and approve the rate 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 at any rate other than the rate so fixed and approved.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.85)
The city shall charge and collect, and every consumer of water
shall pay, for the water, sewer and refuse collection services furnished
by the city. All rates and charges for utility services shall be billed
on one bill. Payment of the amount due on such bill shall be in full
for the total amount billed. Partial payments will not be accepted
without prior approval from the city.
(2002 Code, sec. 12.86)
There shall be imposed an additional fee of thirty percent (30%)
on all debts and accounts receivable, i.e.: fines, fees, restitution,
other debts, and costs, that are more than sixty (60) days past due
and have been referred to a private firm for collection, and that
relate to delinquent utility accounts owed to the city.
(Ordinance 508 adopted 4/13/2023)
