All services provided by the city pursuant to statute, ordinance or otherwise, requiring payment to the city for such services, and including, but not limited to, utility services, garbage collection, construction or demolition services for enforcement of building codes, abatement of nuisances, removal of weeds and any other services, may be billed by the city to the owner of property or utility receiving such services in a single unified billing statement detailing all charges due and payable from such person.
(Prior code § 9-9; Ord. 00-006 § 27, 2000)
All payments received by the city from a property owner or utility user for services shall be applied first to late charges assessed against such property owner or utility user; then to costs of collection of any amounts due and payable from the property owner or utility user to the city; then to arrearages due from the property owner or utility user to the city, then to current charges as may be directed by such property owner.
(Prior code § 9-10; Ord. 00-006 § 28, 2000)
In addition to all other remedies available at law, the city may discontinue all services to any property owner or utility user failing to pay when due charges of any services provided by the city to property owner by such property owner or utility user pursuant to law, or rule or regulation of the city. Notice of intent to discontinue services shall be mailed to the property owner or utility user at the service addresses or such other address as the property owner or utility user may request in writing. For purposes of this chapter, delivery of such notice shall be considered to have occurred on the date of mailing.
(Prior code § 9-11; Ord. 00-006 § 29, 2000; Ord. 16-002 § 1, 2016)
The finance director or designee and/or the customer service supervisor or designee, at his or her discretion, may make a payment arrangement with a utility user or renter, with the written consent of the property owner for delinquent accounts to allow up to four weeks after the due date to make full payment. If the utility user or renter fails to comply with any part of the payment arrangement, water service may be shut off immediately without further notice.
(Ord. 00-006 § 9, 2000; 10-006 § 1, 2010; Ord. 16-002 § 1, 2016; Ord. 18-015 § 1, 2018)
A utility user or renter that pays his or her account with an insufficient funds check, closed account check, or other check returned for nonpayment will be given such notice once, either by telephone, door tag or first class mail. The check amount will be added back to the amount due for that account plus a returned check fee, which shall be the greater of $30 or the amount of the check. The returned check fee may be subject to change periodically. If the account is not brought current within five days after such notice, that account's water service may be immediately discontinued without further notice.
(Ord. 00-006 § 10, 2000; Ord. 16-002 § 1, 2016)
A utility deposit is $150. No interest will be paid on the deposit. No payment arrangements will be accepted for the deposit. Upon termination or shut off, any unpaid charges will be deducted from the deposit with any remainder returned to the utility user who made the deposit. Any charges not covered by the utility deposit remain the responsibility of the property owner.
(Ord. 00-006 § 11, 2000; Ord. 18-015 § 2, 2018)
Upon written notice to the city, of a renter vacating a property, the service will be transferred into the property owner's name unless prior to renter's vacation of the property written instructions on the city approved form are given to the city by the property owner to shut off the service at the curb stop. A ten dollar ($10.00) transfer fee will be applied to all users establishing utility services. Said fee may be amended by resolution of the city council.
(Ord. 00-006 § 12, 2000; Ord. 10-013 § 1, 2010; Ord. 18-015 § 3, 2018)
In the event a property owner wants a utility bill to be sent directly to a renter who has not paid a utility deposit, the property owner shall so notify the city in writing on a form provided by and approved by the finance director. Accounts existing prior to the enactment of the ordinance codified in this chapter will continue to be billed to the address currently on file until changed by the utility user or until that account is closed.
(Ord. 00-006 § 13, 2000; Ord. 18-015 § 4, 2018)
In the event a utility user fails to pay charges billed by the city, and the city incurs costs in collection or attempting to collect the amount owed, the utility user shall be responsible for such collection costs, including, but not limited to, court costs and attorney fees.
(Ord. 00-006 § 14, 2000)
A partial base charge will occur if services are either added or removed during the billing cycle prior to the bill date. The actual amount prorated is determined by the number of days the services were used during the current billing cycle. In addition, charges based on consumption will be applied to the respective user.
(Ord. 10-013 § 1, 2010)