(a) The
city shall require a utility deposit of $200.00 for gas service and
$150.00 for water service from all customers wishing to establish
a utility account. All hotels, motels, apartment complexes, RV parks
and mancamps will require a utility deposit of $400.00 for gas service
and $600.00 for water service. If a customer has no utilities and
requests a dumpster, they will be required to pay a garbage deposit
of two (2) times the current sanitation rate. All deposits shall be
refundable to the customer when they close the utility account. However,
if there is an outstanding balance on the account, the deposit shall
be applied to the outstanding balance, with the remainder refunded
to the customer. The deposit may be transferred if the customer transfers
to a different service location. All summer or winter disconnects
shall be assessed a $50.00 fee, beginning October 1, 2014.
(b) In order
to obtain new service or transfer existing service, each customer
shall present the city with a U.S. photo identification and complete
a service agreement. Only the customer on the account can transfer
or disconnect service.
(c) All
present and future water accounts will have an automatic sanitation
fee and wastewater fee if available inside or outside city limits.
(d) All
new connections to the city’s utility lines located outside
of the city limits shall pay a one-time fee of $2,500.00, plus tapping
fees and deposits.
(e) The
city shall require a nonrefundable tap fee for newly installed service.
The payment of the fee shall not make such service tap the property
of the customer, as the service tap shall remain the property of the
city after the customer pays the fee. The city shall also access a
street cut fee should the city be required to cut into an existing
street to install gas, water or sewer service to a customer. The street
cut fee shall be in addition to any gas tap fee, water tap fee or
sewer tap fee and is set out below. Such fee shall be paid according
to the size of the water tap as set out below:
Size Tap
|
Fee Inside the City Limits
|
Fee Outside the City Limits
|
---|
3/4"
|
$250.00
|
$ 350.00
|
1"
|
$300.00
|
$ 425.00
|
2" or larger
|
Construction cost plus 1/2 cost of meter
|
Construction cost plus 1/2 cost of meter
|
Cross street cut
|
$300.00
|
$300.00
|
(f) It shall
be the policy of the city to encourage the timely payment of utility
bills. All utility bills shall be due by 5:00 p.m. on the 15th day
of the month, or the first business day after the 15th if it falls
on a weekend or holiday. Bills that are not paid by the 15th shall
be assessed a $5.00 penalty. A $75.00 fee will be assessed for all
meters installed after 5:00 p.m. or on weekends.
(g) The
city will compile a list of all outstanding bills as of the 20th day
of the month at 5:00 p.m., or at the same time on the next business
day after the 20th if it falls on a weekend or holiday. The city manager
shall then call for each account with $25.00 or more in outstanding
charges to be disconnected for nonpayment. Accounts that are on the
list at the time it leaves city hall shall be assessed a nonpayment
fee of $50.00.
(h) Reread
of meter.
(1) The
city shall allow for customers to request a reread of their meter
in the case they do not feel the billing is accurate. In the event
the city receives a request for reread, the city manager will send
a crew to manually read the meter and then compare the reading to
the electronic reading on file. If there is found to be an error,
the city manager will cause a correction to be applied to the account.
(2) If
the customer requests a reread and there is found to be no error,
the customer shall be required to pay a service charge of $25.00.
(i) Removal
of water or gas meter for delinquent accounts: $50.00.
(1997 Code, sec. 50.02; Ordinance 170905-01 adopted 9/5/17)