(a) 
Any person or entity desiring to make a connection to the city’s wastewater system shall pay the applicable sewer connection and inspection fees to the city at the time the application for such connection is submitted. No connection shall be made until such fees are paid. The city may waive payment of any fees provided for in this article on a nondiscriminatory basis, to the extent the city obtains federal or state grant funding to cover the balance of such fees. In addition to the requirements of this article, new development or new service to existing structures not covered by section 12.03.032 below also must comply with any service extension policy established by city ordinance or rule.
(b) 
Subsection (a) allows the city council to waive payment of any fees. The city council hereby waives the necessity for all applicants to provide the security deposit required by section 12.03.035. Further, the initial inspection fee for an installed wastewater connection is hereby waived as required by section 12.03.033. The waivers contained in this subsection are applicable only to connections to Phase I and Phase II of the city sewer system.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 3, adopted 6/26/2006; Ordinance 09-O-09 adopted 3/9/2009; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.031)
(a) 
A connection fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code shall be charged and collected by the city for all sewer taps on any residential development and for office, retail, or commercial property.
(1) 
Has been constructed and occupied on or before the first effective date of this article; and
(2) 
Accepts an offer from the city to connect to the sewer system according to the following terms.
(b) 
The city’s offer will be made to the property owner or current occupant of existing structures adjacent to the new sewer collection system, pursuant to a schedule established by the city for the connection. A property owner or current occupant wishing to accept the offer must submit a completed sewer service application and pay the applicable connection fee as required by city ordinances. The connection fee includes the application fee as well as the cost of the sewer collection line and tap to the grinder pump lift station and the electrical service from the structure to the grinder pump lift station; however, the property owner shall be responsible for construction and installation of the sewer line from the existing house service to the grinder pump station and decommissioning existing septic tanks.
(Ordinance 07-O-54, sec. 2, adopted 11/26/2007; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.032; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(a) 
To reimburse the city for demands that may be placed on its wastewater system by new development, the city plans to adopt, assess and collect a wastewater impact fee according to the procedures and conditions of chapter 395 of the Texas Local Government Code.
(b) 
In addition to the capital recovery fee, each connection to new development will be charged a connection fee as follows:
(1) 
Existing structures that do not connect pursuant to section 12.03.032 will also be charged this capital recovery and connection fee when the property or current occupant elects to connect to the system. In addition to the above capital recovery and connection fees, sewer tap installation involving excavation of the sewer main shall be performed by the city at cost plus 25%. Fees are as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(2) 
If inspection is requested, or is required by the city’s plumbing code or other agreement, the city will charge a fee for each inspection of a wastewater connection for a single-family detached or duplex dwelling unit (with individual meters for each dwelling unit). The fee for the first inspection must be paid at the time the connection is installed. The fee for any additional inspections must be paid to the city at the time the inspection is requested. The inspection fee is as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(3) 
The applicable plumbing inspection fees shall be paid prior to installation of the wastewater tap for the new construction. If an inspection is failed, a fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code will be assessed for any re-inspection required. If the property is not accessible for inspection at the time an inspection is scheduled, the inspection will be deemed to have been failed, and the re-inspection fee will be assessed.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 3, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.033; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
In addition to all other fees required by the city, a connection fee per each living unit equivalent (LUE) wastewater connection shall be charged and collected by the city for all sewer connections within 100 feet of an existing city collection line with remaining capacity. The connection fees shall be as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(Ordinance 10-O-15 adopted 6/28/2010; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.034; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(a) 
A security deposit per sewer connection shall be paid to the city by each residential customer prior to the initiation of service in the amount set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
A security deposit per commercial connection shall be paid to the city by each commercial customer in the amount set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(c) 
Security deposits shall not be transferable to another party and shall be held by the city to assure the prompt payment of all bills for wastewater services to the customer. At its option, the city may apply all or any part of a customer’s security deposit against any delinquent bill of the customer due and owing to the city. Upon discontinuation of service, whether because of the customer’s delinquency or upon the customer’s request, the deposit shall be applied against amounts due, including any disconnection fees. Any portion of the deposit remaining after deduction of such amounts shall be refunded to the customer. In no event shall the security deposit bear interest for the benefit of the customer.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 3, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.035; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
A customer who desires to transfer wastewater service from one address within the city to another address, or from one customer name to another customer name, shall pay a transfer fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code, which shall be collected at the time of the transfer of service.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 3, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.036; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
Any nonroutine charges incurred by the city in connection with any sewer tap or tap inspection shall be the responsibility of the applicant for such connection and shall be payable to the city upon demand.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 3, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.037)
(a) 
Each homebuilder seeking wastewater service from the city must maintain a builder deposit as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
No sewer connections will be sold to a homebuilder until this deposit is paid. Homebuilder deposits are nontransferable, and any inspection fees coming due to the city may be charged against this deposit. At its option, the city may apply all or any part of a homebuilder’s deposit against any delinquent bill of the builder due and owing to the city. Upon discontinuation of service to the builder, the deposit shall be applied against amounts due, including any disconnection fees, whether because of the builder’s delinquency or upon the builder’s request. Any portion of the deposit remaining after deduction of such amounts shall be refunded to the builder. In no event shall the homebuilder’s deposit bear interest for the benefit of the builder.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 3, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.038; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
The city council hereby adopts an installment payment plan for persons or entities seeking to pay the applicable sewer/wastewater connection charges for each living unit equivalent required for connection to the city’s wastewater collection system. Each person or entity may make installment payments of the applicable sewer/wastewater connection charges for each living unit equivalent in up to five equal payments with the first payment due at the time the application for an installment plan is made and each successive payment being due and payable no later than 60 days following the previous payment. Installment payment plans may not be longer than 240 days following the initial payment. Any installment payment that is not received by the appropriate payment date may be assessed a late fee of up to five percent (5%). The city council hereby authorizes the city manager or their designee to execute an installment payment agreement on behalf of the city. The city treasurer is hereby directed to provide for an accounting system to ensure that each customer’s account is properly credited.
(Ordinance 21-O-03.22-04 adopted 3/22/2021; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)