9-4 Water and Sewer System Investment and Tap Fees

A.    General Provisions – Water and Sewer Investment Fees

1.    Investment fees imposed by this section shall be due when any customer presently served by water or sewer extends his facilities or changes his use, if:

a.    The expansion or change in use necessitates a larger connection or increases the number of units; or

b.    A new tap to the system is required, except a connection solely for the purposes of repair of an existing adequately sized connection, in which case only actual costs of City material and labor will be charged.

2.    No connection to the City system shall be allowed which is smaller than reasonably necessary to serve the proposed use, as provided in City codes and specifications. No customer may make any changes or additions to property served, which would substantially increase the amount of water used or sewage produced, or strength of sewage without obtaining an enlarged connection sufficient to accommodate such use, and payment of any additional investment fees.

3.    If an existing connection is not of reasonably adequate size, a credit shall be allowed toward the fees imposed by this section for an amount equivalent to the charge which would be imposed by this section for a connection the same size as the one to be replaced by a new connection and taken out of service. Such credit may be applied only toward charges imposed by this section. Provided, however, in all cases the applicant shall be charged at least for actual costs of material and labor expended by the City.

4.    Investment fees imposed upon property located outside City limits shall be twice the charges specified in accordance with this section.

5.    If, at the time the connection is actually made to the system, or at the time service is first initiated following connection, the amount of system investment fees has been increased by the City from what the applicant paid previously at the time he obtained the permit for connection and actually made the connection, he shall remit such additional amount at the time of connection or initial service.

6.    Any connection, for which no service charges have been paid for 24 months or more, shall be deemed abandoned and service may not be resumed unless the full amount of applicable investment fees and other charges is paid without any credit for an existing physical connection.

B.    Water Investment Fees

1.    A water system investment fee of $7,500 for up to a three quarter inch (3/4") nominal diameter tap shall be imposed and collected prior to connection to the water system, or as otherwise required, pursuant to this Chapter, except for taps solely serving a fire system, which shall pay an investment fee of $500.

2.    Connections larger than one inch shall not be allowed unless the City determines that adequate capacity exists. The investment fee for such taps shall be equal to the fee specified for a three quarter inch (3/4") tap above multiplied by the square of the diameter of the larger tap.

3.    Monies collected as water system investment fees will be reserved for water system expansion and capital equipment replacement.

C.    Sewer Investment Fees

1.    A sewer system investment fee of $7,500 for up to a four-inch nominal diameter tap shall be imposed and collected prior to connection to the sewer system, or as otherwise required pursuant to this Chapter.

2.    Connections larger than a four-inch tap shall not be allowed unless the City determines that adequate capacity exists. The investment fee for such taps shall be equal to the fee specified for a four-inch tap above, multiplied by the square of the diameter of the larger tap divided by 4.

3.    Monies collected as sewer investment fees will be reserved for sewer system expansion and capital equipment replacement.

D.    Unit Charges

1.    All multiple unit residences and dwelling facilities including, but not limited to, duplexes, multi-family residences, apartments, mobile homes, and mobile home parks, and condominiums shall be subject to the investment fees required by Sections 9-4-B-1 and 9-4-C-1 for each unit regardless of the size or configuration of taps.

2.    Recreational vehicle parks, motels, hotels, lodges, bed and breakfast operations, and similar operations shall be charged for each water or sewer tap, tap fees equal to those provided by Sections 9-4-B-1 and 9-4-C-1 plus 0.2 times the investment fees provided by Sections 9-4-B-1 and C-1 above, for each unit after the first unit served by the tap, regardless of the size of the tap.

E.    Tap Fees for Water and Sewer Systems

Water or sewer tap fees cover materials, labor and administrative costs incurred installing the connection to the water or sewer system, including all appurtenances. The tap fees will be billed to the owner after installation of the tap and are due within 30 days of the invoice date.

(Source: Ordinance No. 11, 2015)