A fee for late payment of a utility bill rendered by the city automatically shall be applied to the amount owed by a customer if the bill is (1) correct and (2) unpaid by 5 p.m. of the 15th day after the bill has been mailed or delivered personally to the customer. If the customer disputes the bill, the late fee shall be sustained if it is later determined that the bill was correct. The late fee is established as follows:
(1) 
Residential service, $3.00.
(2) 
Commercial service, $5.00.
(Ordinance 94-008 adopted 12/6/94)
(a) 
Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code, section 402.0025(d), the city hereby imposes a lien against any owner’s property, unless it is a homestead protected by the state constitution, for delinquent bills for municipal utility service to the property.
(b) 
The lien shall not apply to bills for service connected in a tenant’s name after notice by the property owner to the municipality that the property is rental property.
(c) 
The lien shall not apply to bills for service connected in a tenant’s name prior to the effective date of this section (October 6, 1992).
(d) 
The lien on any owner’s property shall be perfected by recording in the real property records of the county a notice of lien containing a legal description of the property and the utility’s account number for the delinquent charges. The lien shall include penalties, interest, and collection costs.
(Ordinance 92-004 adopted 10/6/92)