The city shall bill each customer monthly for all wastewater services rendered in the preceding month. All bills shall be due on the due date as specified on the bills and shall become delinquent if not paid as set forth on the bills. For accounting purposes only, and with city council approval, the city may write off accounts receivable over ninety (90) days past due. This shall in no way relieve the past due customer of any liability for payment. The city will turn all overdue accounts over to a collection agency for appropriate action.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 5, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.091)
A late charge as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code shall be added for each monthly billing date the delinquent amount, including delinquent fees and charges, remains unpaid. The city reserves the right to waive any late charge or penalty for good cause and when the best interest of the city is served by such waiver.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 5, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.092; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(a) 
If a water bill remains delinquent for fifteen (15) days, wastewater service may be discontinued by the city in accordance with this subsection. Prior to termination, the customer shall be notified of the amount due by a written notice sent by United States mail, first class, or by email if the customer has enrolled in paperless billing. The notice shall state the date upon which wastewater service shall be terminated; the date shall be not less than seven (7) days from the date such notice is sent. Such notice shall state the time and place at which the account may be paid and that any errors in the bill may be corrected by contacting the city’s representative, whose telephone number shall also be given in the notice. Provided, however, that in the event the customer contacts the city’s representative within such seven (7) day period, the city may, at its option, allow the customer to make arrangements to pay the delinquent amount in installments to be approved by the city’s representative. In addition, the notice renders the entire account delinquent, and the entire account must be paid in full in order to avoid interruption of service.
(b) 
The city reserves the right to take and apply any portion of a customer’s wastewater security deposit against delinquent amounts due and owing to the city under this article.
(c) 
In unusual circumstances and in limited cases wherein it is determined that a hardship exists, the city manager, or his/her designee, may, at his/her discretion, enter into a written agreement with a customer for extended or installment payments for the overdue amount.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 5, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.093; Ordinance 22-O-07.13-001 adopted 7/13/2022; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
Water service shall be discontinued in accordance with this section for any account for which a check for payment has been dishonored by the financial institution. Three days prior to termination, the customer shall receive a notice placed by the city’s representative at the customer’s service address. Payment by the customer who has presented a dishonored check shall be made by cash, money order, or cashier’s check. Personal checks will not be accepted. The city further reserves the right to charge a customer paying a bill with a check which is dishonored an amount established from time to time by the city, which amount shall be based on the prevailing or usual charges made for dishonored checks and drafts by other vendors in the same general area as the city.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 5, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.094)
The city reserves the right to institute suit for the collection of any amounts due and unpaid, together with interest thereon at the maximum legal rate, plus court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 5, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.095)
For those wastewater customers of the city being provided water service by the Liberty Hill Water Supply Corporation (WSC) or Chisholm Trail Special Utility District (CTSUD), discontinuance of water service may be effected by the WSC or CTSUD in accordance with the terms and conditions of the WSC’s or CTSUD’s current water tariff and an interlocal agreement with the city.
(Ordinance 06-O-49, sec. 5, adopted 6/26/2006; 2009 Code, sec. 13.02.096)