Any person or party owning or occupying property inside the
service area of the city who desires service and has made application
for same.
An owner, tenant, occupant or resident of a property which
is connected to city service lines and who is using the services of
the city sanitary sewer system.
The city has jurisdiction and/or regulatory power over the
operation of the waterworks and sanitary sewer system.
The system of reservoirs, holding tanks, properties, facilities,
mains, or pumping treatment equipment owned, operated or maintained
by the city, now or in the future, whereby wastewater is collected,
treated and discharged by the city.
The receipt of wastewater from a customer, including any
and all acts done, rendered or performed in the treating, processing,
storage, transmission or discharging of wastewater by the city.
A board consisting of one (1) city council member appointed
by the city council, the director/manager of the waterworks and a
private citizen selected by the city council. The city council member
shall chair all meetings of the board and submit minutes and findings
to the city council. The board shall review customer complaints and
requests as specified in these service rules and regulations.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00)
(a)
Statement of organization.
The waterworks and the sanitary
sewer system of the city is a municipal utility organized under the
laws of the state for the purpose of providing water or wastewater
utility services to the public. The municipal utility operating policies,
rates, tariffs and regulations are formulated and effected in accordance
with the rules, regulations and procedures of the city council and
other regulatory agencies.
(b)
Nondiscrimination policy.
Service is rendered to all
applicants within the city’s service area who comply with the
provisions of this article, regardless of race, color, creed, sex,
marital status or national origin.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00)
The rate schedule for wastewater service shall be as established
by city council.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00; Ordinance adopting 2017 Code)
Contributions in aid of construction shall not be required of
individual residential customers for production, storage, treatment
or transmission facilities, except that developers of property to
be ultimately subdivided into five (5) or more serviceable lots, whether
in one or multiple phases, may be required to provide contributions
in aid of construction in an amount necessary to provide for the entire
development facilities compliant with the department of state health
services, city ordinances or other federal, state or local regulatory
authority. The contribution shall be sufficient to meet the minimum
design criteria for production, storage, treatment or transmission
facilities as required by the entire development. The city may require
developers to install facilities which exceed the minimum requirements
for certain subdivisions. Such additional requirements will be based
on a city master plan and shall be coordinated with the developer
and with the city engineering public works director and the planning
and zoning committee. The city shall reimburse the developer or share
in the cost of facilities to the extent of added cost of such added
requirements or provide an amount agreed to. This policy shall be
consistent and applied in a nondiscriminatory manner.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00)
Before the owner of any land which is to be serviced by any
sanitary sewer system of the city can receive such service, the owner
of such land must either obtain annexation of such property by the
city or must file a request for annexation within ninety (90) days
after the date of the request for sewer service. In the event the
annexation is not completed, any sewer service which was extended
because of the application shall be terminated. This termination shall
be immediate unless the city council, upon request by the owner, shall
make further provisions for temporary service under terms and conditions
to be specified at the time.
(Ordinance 296-91, sec. I, adopted 7/16/91; 1993 Code, art. 11.400)
All applications for service will be made on the city’s
standard application and will be signed by the applicant before wastewater
service is supplied by the city. A separate application will be made
for each service at each separate location, for homes or single business
units or for apartments or multiple business units.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00)
(a)
City sanitary sewer main in place abutting user’s property.
After proper application is made by the applicant, the city
shall install a standard connection at the property line as determined
by the city no more than ten feet (10') in distance from the existing
main, unless the customer agrees to pay for the additional extension
of the service line.
(b)
City sanitary sewer main not on or abutting user’s property
(existing subdivisions).
In the event an applicant desires
wastewater service to property which does not currently have city
mains in place, the applicant shall pay the applicable tap fee and
deposit. Any facilities so provided shall be the property of the city
and installed at the sole discretion of the city.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00)
The piping and other equipment past the outlet flange of the
meter or connection point, furnished by the customer and on the customer’s
property, will be maintained by the customer at all times in conformity
with the requirements of the city and with the service rules and regulations
of the city. The customer will extend his service line to his property
boundary at a point nearest the city’s existing meter or connection
point.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00)
The city will have the right of access to the customer’s
premises and property at all reasonable times for the purpose of installing,
inspecting or repairing mains or other equipment used in connection
with its provision of wastewater service, or for the purposes of removing
its property and disconnecting lines and for all other purposes, to
protect the health and welfare of its customers.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00)
The customer will be billed monthly for all wastewater accepted
by the sanitary sewer system at applicable rates in the amount established
by city council.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00; Ordinance adopting 2017 Code)
The city may decline to provide service to an applicant until
such applicant has complied with the state and municipal regulations
and approved rules and regulations of the sanitary sewer system, on
file with the city, governing the services applied for, or for the
below-listed reasons. In the event that the city shall refuse to serve
an applicant under the provisions of these rules, the city must inform
the applicant of the basis of its refusal and that the applicant may
file a complaint with the water review board. The applicant may appeal
the decision of the water review board to the city council. Service
by the city may be refused for:
(1)
Applicant’s facilities inadequate: If the applicant’s
installation or equipment is hazardous or of such character that satisfactory
service cannot be given;
(2)
For indebtedness: If the applicant is indebted to any utility for
the same kind of service as that applied for; provided, however, that
in the event the indebtedness of the applicant for service is in dispute,
the applicant may appeal to the water review board. The applicant
shall be served if so directed by the board;
(3)
Refusal to make deposit: For refusal to make a deposit if the applicant
is required to make a deposit under these rules;
(4)
Delinquency in payment for service by the applicant at the same or
a different location;
(5)
Failure to pay for merchandise or charges for non-utility service
purchased from the city;
(6)
Failure to pay a bill to correct previous underbilling due to misapplication
of rates up to six (6) months prior to the date of the application.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00)
(a)
The due date of the bill for utility service shall be the tenth of
each month. A bill for utility service is delinquent if unpaid by
the due date. The postmark, if any, on the envelope of the bill, or
an issuance date on the bill, if there is no postmark on the envelope,
shall constitute proof of the date of issuance. If the due date falls
on a holiday or weekend, the due date for payment purposes shall be
the next workday after the due date.
(b)
A customer’s utility service may be disconnected if the bill
has not been paid or a deferred payment agreement entered into within
twenty-three (23) days from the date of issuance and if proper notice
has been given. Proper notice shall consist of a separate mailing
or hand delivery at least seven (7) days prior to a stated date of
disconnection, with the words “termination notice” or
similar language prominently displayed on the notice. The information
included in the notice shall be provided to adequately inform the
customer. If mailed, the disconnection date may not occur on a holiday
or weekend, but shall occur on the next workday after the expiration
of the seven-day notice period.
(c)
A customer who issues the utility a check in payment of service,
or for any other reason, which is returned for insufficient funds
or is invalid, or not negotiable for any other reason, may have the
service disconnected. The customer will be notified by mail (with
two (2) business days allowed for receipt) or telephone. Service will
be disconnected seven days after notification unless the bill, late
charges and related fees are paid. All disconnect fees, service fees
due, reconnect fees and a returned check charge must be paid prior
to service being reconnected.
(d)
Utility service may be disconnected seven days after written notice
for any of the following reasons:
(1)
Failure to pay a delinquent amount for sanitary sewer service or
failure to comply with the terms of a deferred payment agreement;
(2)
Violation of the city’s rules pertaining to the use of service
in a manner which interferes with the service of others, or the operation
of nonstandard equipment;
(3)
Failure to comply with deposit or guarantee arrangements where required;
(4)
Tampering with the sanitary sewer meter or equipment or bypassing
the same.
(e)
Utility service may be disconnected without notice where a known
dangerous condition exists for as long as the condition exists, or
where service is connected without authority by a person who has not
made application for service or who has reconnected service without
authority following termination of service for nonpayment.
(f)
Sanitary sewer service may not be disconnected for failure to pay
charges arising from an underbilling occurring due to any misapplication
of rates more than six (6) months prior to the current billings (underbillings
will be paid at the next billing).
(g)
Unless a dangerous condition exists, or unless the customer requests
disconnection, service shall not be disconnected on a day, or on a
day immediately preceding a day, when personnel of the utility district
are not available to the public for the purpose of making collections
and reconnecting service.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00; Ordinance adopting 2017 Code)
It shall be the policy of the utility to work with customers
when hardship cases exist. The director/manager of the utility shall
offer, upon written request, a deferred payment plan to any customer
who has demonstrated an ability to pay a reasonable portion but not
all of his/her bill, if that customer has not previously been delinquent
at any time during the preceding twelve (12) months. Such a deferred
payment plan shall not exceed two (2) equal monthly payments which
are additive to the cost of services for each of the next two (2)
months. Customers with hardships which exceed these guidelines or
whose request is denied by the director/manager may appeal to the
water review board.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00)
(a)
Deposit required.
The sanitary sewer system requires
a deposit from each applicant for wastewater service in a sum reasonably
related to anticipated usage and considering payment history.
(b)
Establishment of credit for permanent residential applicants.
(1)
The utility may require a residential applicant for service to satisfactorily
establish credit, but such establishment of credit shall not relieve
the customer from complying with rules for prompt payment of bills.
(2)
Subject to these rules, a residential applicant shall not be required
to pay a deposit if the residential applicant has been a customer
of any utility for the same kind of service within the last two (2)
years and was not delinquent in the payment of any such utility service
account during the last twelve (12) consecutive months of service
and has not had more than one (1) occasion where a bill for such utility
service was paid after becoming delinquent and never had service disconnected
for nonpayment.
(c)
Re-establishment of credit; meter tampering or bypassing meter.
Every applicant who was previously a customer of the city and whose service was disconnected for failure to pay a bill or meter tampering or bypassing of meter shall be required before service is rendered to pay all amounts due the utility and re-establish credit as provided in this subsection, plus pay a deposit as stipulated in section 13.04.003.
(1)
In cases of meter tampering or bypassing of a meter, wastewater discharged
by the customer, but not metered, may be estimated by the utility
based on amounts used under similar conditions during preceding billing
periods. Where no previous usage history exists or is considered unreliable
due to meter tampering or bypassing of a meter, discharge may be established
on the basis of levels of similar customers and under similar conditions.
(2)
The utility will charge for all labor, material and equipment necessary
to repair or replace all equipment damaged due to meter tampering
or the bypassing of a meter. The charge for the tampering, bypassing
or equipment damage will be in the amount established by city council.
(d)
Exemption from deposit for homestead service for elderly persons.
All applicants for permanent residential (where the residence
is claimed as homestead for ad valorem tax purposes) service who are
sixty-five (65) years of age or older will be considered as having
established credit if such applicant does not have an outstanding
account balance with the utility, or another utility, for the same
utility service which has accrued within the last two (2) years. No
cash deposit shall be required of such applicant under these conditions.
(e)
Refund of deposits.
Deposits will be refunded upon application
tendered after disconnection of services and payment of all sums owed
on the account for which a refund of deposit is requested.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00; Ordinance 509-04, sec. 4, adopted 2/17/04; Ordinance
adopting 2017 Code)
(a)
Bills for wastewater service shall be rendered monthly unless otherwise
authorized by the city, or unless service is terminated before the
end of a billing cycle. Service initiated less than one (1) week before
the next billing cycle may be billed with the following month’s
bill. Bills shall be rendered as promptly as possible following the
reading of meters.
(b)
The customer’s bill shall show all the following information,
if applicable:
(1)
If the meter is read by the utility, the date and reading of the
meter at the beginning and at the end of the period for which the
bill is rendered;
(2)
The number and kind of units metered;
(3)
The applicable rate schedule title or code;
(4)
The total amount due for water and/or wastewater service;
(5)
The due date of the bill;
(6)
A distinct marking to identify an estimated bill;
(7)
Late charges applied if paid after the sixteenth (16th) day from
the date of issuance of billing; and
(8)
Late charges not paid from previous bills.
(c)
When there is good reason for doing so, estimated bills may be submitted
provided that an actual meter reading is taken every six (6) months.
In months where the meter reader is unable to gain access to the premises
to read the meter on a regular meter reading trip, or in months where
meters are not read, the utility may provide the customer with a postcard
and request the customer to read the meter and return the card to
the utility. If such postcard is not received by the utility in time
for billing, the utility may estimate the meter reading and render
the bill accordingly.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00)
(a)
General provisions.
(1)
Basis for wastewater charges.
All wastewater received
by the sanitary sewer system shall be charged for based on meter measurements
of water consumption for the identical service period, except where
otherwise provided for.
(2)
Premises where water is unmetered.
For premises which
have a source of water other than the city water system, where the
spent or used water from which goes into the city wastewater collection
system, the customer shall pay, according to the wastewater schedule,
based upon an estimate of the amount of water going into the wastewater
collection system. In the event of a disagreement as to the amount
of such water reaching the wastewater collection system, then a metering
device or devices as provided by this section shall be installed by
the customer to determine that amount.
(3)
Installation of meter.
Unless otherwise authorized by
the council, the customer shall provide and install at the customer’s
expense and shall continue to own and maintain all meters necessary
for the measurement of wastewater discharged by the customer into
the sanitary sewer system.
(4)
Type of meter.
The customer shall not furnish, set up
or put in use any meter which is not reliable and not of a type which
meets industry standards and [the meter] must be acceptable to the
utility; provided, however, special meters not necessarily conforming
to such standard types may be used for investigation or experimental
purposes.
(b)
Meter records.
The utility shall keep the following
records:
(1)
Meter equipment record.
Each utility shall keep a record
of all meters used, showing the customer’s address, account
number and date of the last test.
(2)
Records of meter tests.
All meter tests shall be properly
referenced to the meter record provided for herein. The record of
each test made on a customer’s premises or on request of a customer
shall show the identifying number and constants of the meter, the
standard meter and other measuring devices used, the date and kind
of test made, by whom made, the error (or percentage of accuracy)
at each load tested, and sufficient data to permit verification of
all calculations.
(c)
Meter readings.
(1)
Meter unit indication.
In general, each meter shall
indicate clearly the gallons or other units of water or wastewater
service for which charge is made to the customer.
(2)
Schedule.
As a matter of general practice, service meters
shall be read at monthly intervals, and as nearly as possible on the
corresponding day of each meter reading period, but may be read at
other than monthly intervals if the circumstances warrant.
(d)
Meter tests on request of customer.
The utility shall, upon the request of a customer, make (without charge, if defective) a test of accuracy of the customer’s meter by a certified testing laboratory. The charge for meter testing, if the meter is found to be operating properly as defined by the accuracy standards established by the American National Standards Institute or the American Water Works Association, shall be as specified in section 13.04.003. Following the completion of any requested test, the utility shall promptly advise the customer of the date of removal of the meter, the date of the test, the result of the test, and who made the test. Records of the tests and results shall be maintained by the utility and shall be available for customer review.
(e)
Bill adjustment due to meter error.
If any meter is
found to be outside of the accuracy standards established by the American
National Standards Institute, Incorporated, or the American Water
Works Association, proper correction shall be made of the previous
readings for the period of six (6) months immediately preceding the
removal of such meter from service for test, and adjusted bills shall
be rendered. No refund is required from the utility except to the
customer last served by the meter prior to the testing. If a meter
is found not to register for any period, unless bypassed or tampered
with, the utility shall make a charge for units used, but not metered,
for a period not to exceed six (6) months based on amounts used under
similar conditions during period preceding or subsequent thereto,
or during corresponding periods in previous years.
(Ordinance 454-00 adopted 4/18/00)
