Article 913
SANITARY SEWER RENTALS

Sections:

913.01  Rental charge imposed for use of sewers.

913.02  Base and rental rate schedules – Exceptions by council resolution.

913.03  Sewer rental bills rendered concurrently with water bills.

913.04  Penalty for bill payment delinquency.

913.05  Liability for bill payment – Remedies for collection of delinquent accounts.

913.06  Rate for service outside the city by council resolution.

913.07  Special rates established by city council.

913.01 Rental charge imposed for use of sewers.

From and after January 1, 1963, there is hereby imposed and established an annual rental, rate or charge for the use of the sanitary sewer system owned and operated by the city, to be paid by the owners or users of all real property connected to the sewer system and water system. (Ord. 2562 § 1, 1962)

913.02 Base and rental rate schedules – Exceptions by council resolution.

(A) Base Rate Schedule. Effective January 1, 1997, a base (monthly minimum) rate shall be computed, imposed and charged for sewer service monthly based upon the size of the water meter servicing the premises and in accordance with the following rate table:

Meter Size Monthly

(inches) Base Rate

1/2, 5/8, 3/4 $2.00

1 $2.60

1-1/2 $3.80

2 $5.50

3 $17.00

4 $23.00

6, 8, 10 $55.00

(B) Rental Rate Schedule. Effective January 1, 1997, a rental, rate and sewage charge shall be computed, imposed and charged for sewer service monthly and shall be determined by the quantity of water used upon the premises as evidenced by the water meter readings in accordance with the following sewage service rate table as applied to each water meter reading and billing:

First 800 cubic feet per month $3.30

Next 2,600 cubic feet per month $3.22

All in excess of 3,400 cubic feet per month $3.15

(C) When a property is connected to the city sanitary sewer system but is not connected to the city water system, or where it can be proved by the property owner that a substantial amount of water being used is not discharged to the city sewer system, or where other conditions exist which in the opinion of council cause the use of the water meter reading for sewer rental charge to be improper and unfair, council may by resolution establish charges and rates which shall apply to these special conditions. Council may require the installation of additional water meters at the owner’s cost if they deem this necessary to establish proper sewer rental charges. (Ord. 3424 § 1, 1995; Ord. 3420 § 1, 1995; Ord. 3404 § 1, 1995; Ord. 3386 § 1, 1994; Ord. 3374 § 1, 1994; Ord. 3357 § 1, 1993; Ord. 3304 § 1, 1991; Ord. 2562 § 2, 1962)

913.03 Sewer rental bills rendered concurrently with water bills.

Bills for sewer rentals and charges hereby imposed shall be rendered concurrently with the bills for water services rendered by the city to its users and shall be due and payable concurrently with such bills for water service. (Ord. 2562 § 3, 1962)

913.04 Penalty for bill payment delinquency.

(A) Penalty and Service Fees for Delinquent Bill Paying. All billings for sanitary sewage service shall be due on the due date shown thereon. Bills not paid on or before the due date shown on each billing will be delinquent and are subject to the following penalties and service fees:

(1) A flat special service fee of $1.00 per month or part of month by which the billing is delinquent; plus

(2) A late charge for residential customers equal to 1.5 percent of the delinquent bill for each month or part of month by which any bill is delinquent; or

(3) A late charge for commercial and industrial customers equal to five percent of the delinquent bill for each month or part of month by which any bill is delinquent;

(4) For the purpose of this section, premises containing six or more residential dwelling units which are serviced by a common (master) water meter shall be deemed to be commercial customers; all residential premises serviced by separate water meters and all premises containing fewer than six residential premises serviced by a common (master) water meter shall be deemed to be residential customers.

(B) Shut-Off. Premises serviced by accounts with bills which are delinquent 60 days or more are subject to termination of service (shut-off) at which time the customer’s water meter will be removed. Upon the posting of any shut-off notice, a separate shut-off service fee of $15.00 shall become immediately due and payable and shall be added to the billing and all other penalties and service fees. The customer’s meter will be removed 10 days after posting of the shut-off notice. Upon reconnection after any actual shut-off, a reconnection service fee of $15.00, together with any other costs occasioned by collection efforts, shall become immediately due and payable and shall be added to the billing and all other penalties and service fees.

The city may, in its discretion, allow residential customers to enter into a payment plan to allow customers who are in extreme financial circumstances to pay sanitary sewage bills over an extended period of time, not to exceed four months. During the period of the payment plan, the customer will be required to pay any current sanitary sewage charges in a timely fashion.

Payment plans will not be available to commercial customers.

(C) Identity of Occupants of Rental Real Estate. In no event will the city provide separate billing to any premises, except in the name of a named occupant or owner who or which applies for service. No "occupant" accounts will be carried by the city. (Ord. 3446 § 1, 1996; Ord. 3374 § 2, 1994; Ord. 2562 § 4, 1962)

913.05 Liability for bill payment – Remedies for collection of delinquent accounts.

Owners of real property served by the sewer system shall be responsible for the sewer rentals or charges established and imposed herein for sewer services rendered to any tenant or occupant of such property. Such sewer rentals or charges shall be a lien on the properties charged with the payment thereof from the date such sewer service is rendered, and, if not paid within 30 days after notice the charge or rental is past due, may be collected by an action in assumpsit in the name of the city against the owner of the property charged or the occupant or user, or by distress of personal property on the premises, or by a lien filed in the nature of a municipal lien. (Ord. 2562 § 5, 1962)

913.06 Rate for service outside the city by council resolution.

This article shall not apply to sewer service rendered outside the city limits. The rental rate or charge to be imposed for sewer service rendered by the city to users residing outside the city shall be established by resolution of council. (Ord. 2729 § 2, 1969)

913.07 Special rates established by city council.

The city council may, in its sole and absolute discretion, provide for special rates for exceptional circumstances as the same shall be from time to time recognized by said city council in its sole discretion. All such special rates shall apply uniformly to any and all sewer customers experiencing the exceptional circumstance giving rise to the establishment of such rates. Such rates shall be established by resolution duly adopted by the city council and shall continue in force and effect for the term set therefor by the council in any such resolution or, absent the statement of any time limitation, until such special rates shall be changed by further action of the city council. (Ord. 3081 § 1, 1984)