[Adopted 12-16-1998 by Ord. No. 98-27[1]; amended in its entirety 12-15-1999 by Ord. No. 99-18]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Art. IV, Fire Hydrant Tax, adopted 12-30-1975 by Ord. No. 75-5, as amended.
An assessment for the year 2000 is hereby levied upon any and all real estate abutting any highway, street, road or alley or portion thereof and within 780 feet of any fire hydrant located along any such highway, street, road or alley.
A. 
The assessment hereby levied shall be in the total amount necessary to fill the Township's contractual obligation with the City of Bethlehem, relating to the placing, replacing, operating and maintaining and repairing such fire hydrants which, for the year 1999 is hereby stated to be in the amount of $20,328.
B. 
The assessment hereby levied shall also be in the total amount necessary to cover the invoice received from Hellertown Borough Authority for six hydrants located within Lower Saucon Township which, for the year 1999, is hereby estimated to be in the amount of $1,584.
An equal assessment, for the 2000 year, is hereby imposed upon all such properties in the amount of 0.3 mills and shall be computed for each property based upon the assessment of such property for county purposes. (0.3 mills equals $0.03 per hundred.)
The assessment hereby imposed shall affect only such properties so located as are benefited by said fire hydrants. Farm lands and aviation fields are excluded from this assessment.
The Township Finance Department shall collect this assessment in the same manner as taxes and shall prepare for each property owner subject to the assessment a bill which shall reflect the amount of the assessment based upon such property owners' county assessment.
All assessments collected by the Finance Department under the terms of this article shall be kept in a separate account which is hereby established by the Township and is designated the "Fire Assessment Account." No withdrawals shall be made from this account except upon orders signed by the President of Council of the Township, attested by the Township Secretary. The Finance Department shall report annually on all collections of the assessment to the Township Controller.
All assessments shall become due and payable within 60 days from date of bill, and all unpaid assessments after the expiration of said 60 days shall be placed in the hands of the Township Solicitor for collection as provided by law.