For purposes of this article utility services shall include water, electrical, sewer, solid waste (refuse), internet service, and other utility services provided by the city.

(Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

Unless otherwise provided by section 15-102A, water, electric, sewer, solid waste (refuse), internet service, or other utility service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges in accordance with Sections 15-103:104.

(Ord. 426, Sec. 16-105; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

In the event that a customer would desire an extension of time for the payment of his or her utility bill, a written request is to be personally presented to the City office setting forth the extension of time requested, the type and manner of payment to be made and acknowledgement that if the request for extension, if approved by city personnel, is not strictly adhered to utility service will be terminated.

(a)   If a utility bill has not been paid on or before the due date as provided in this chapter, a delinquency and termination notice shall be issued by the city clerk within five days after the delinquency occurs and mailed to the customer at his or her last known address. A copy also shall be mailed to the occupant of the premises if the occupant and the customer are not the same person.

(b)   The notice shall state:

(1)   The amount due, plus delinquency charge;

(2)   Notice that service will be terminated if the amount due is not paid within 10 days from the date of the notice unless the date on the notice to pay the charges due shall be on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which event such notice will give the consumer until the close of the next business day in which to pay the charges;

(3)   Notice that the customer has the right to a hearing before the utilities committee;

(4)   Notice that the request for a hearing must be in writing and filed with the city clerk no later than three days prior to the date for termination of service.

(c)   Upon receipt of a request for hearing, the city clerk shall advise the customer of the date, time and place of the hearing which shall be held just prior to the next scheduled city council meeting.

(Ord. 426, Sec. 16-105; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

Following the hearing, if the utilities committee shall find that service should not be terminated, then notice of such finding shall be presented to the city clerk. If the officer finds that service should be terminated, an order shall be issued terminating service five days after the date of the order. The customer shall be notified either in person or by mailing a letter to his or her last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested. However, if the order is made at the hearing in the presence of the customer, then no further notice need be given. The utilities committee has a right, for good cause, to grant an extension, not to exceed 10 days, for the termination of such service.

(Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

(a)   All owners and/or occupants of property which is connected to and/or receives city utility services shall, as a condition for continued service, ensure that all water and electrical meters are readily accessible, at all times, by city personnel for the purposes of taking readings, or for the maintenance, repair or replacement of the meters.

(b)   The city superintendent, at his or her own discretion is authorized to deny service or discontinue service in the following situations:

(1)   The presence of dogs or any other conditions which could present a danger or hazard to city employees or agents while reading or servicing the utility meters;

(2)   The existence of locked gates or other barriers preventing the ready access by city employees or agents to the premises;

(3)   The existence of the overgrowth of weeds, grasses or other natural or manmade obstructions preventing ready access by city employees or agents to city utility meters;

(c)   Prior denial or discontinuation of utility service, ten days written notice to cure shall be given by the city superintendent, by regular mail, to the owner and/or occupant of the property at their last known address. Upon a second occurrence, within one year, no notice will be required prior to denial or discontinuation of service.

(Ord. 533; Code 2015)

(a)   Owners of premises served by utility service under this article shall be liable for payment of the cost of any utility service account delinquency arising from service provided to such premises, regardless of whether the utility service was furnished upon the application and request of the owner or the lessee of the premises. This provision shall also apply when the premises are leased by or through an agent or other representative of the owner.

(b)   In the event a delinquency arises involving leased premises, the owner or owner’s agent shall be notified in writing of the delinquency of the lessee by first class regular mail within 10 days after the billing to the lessee becomes delinquent. Notice shall be sufficient if mailing to the last known address of the owner or owner’s agent known to city personnel responsible for said mailing, after reasonable inquiry. If the delinquent billing, interest and penalty are not paid within 15 days of the mailing, the affected utility service may be discontinued and no further such service shall be furnished by the city to the premises until all billing for the utility service to be premises, interest, late payment charges and a reconnection charge, if applicable, is paid in full.

(Code 1994; Code 2003; C.O. No. 2004-2; Code 2015)

(a)   Bills are prepared by the 1st of the month (Usually read by the 25th of the month).

(b)   Customers pay bill between the 1st and the 15th.

(c)   For customers that have not paid: At noon on the 16th, a late charge of $10.69 is added and a late notice is mailed to the customer and landlord.

(d)   On the 25th, city workers place notices on the door notifying the customer that their electrical service will be terminated on the 26th if payment is not received by 10 a.m. (If we know someone is out of town, in the hospital, or if they notify the office, we usually don’t turn off the services.)

(e)   On the 26th, if customers have not made arrangements with the city office, landlords are usually called and if the landlord does not want the service put in their name, services are turned off.

(f)   After the 26th, if the customer wants to reconnect services, payment must be made for the entire bill plus a reconnect charge of $25.00 + tax.

Note:

(1)   If any of these dates fall on the weekends or a city holiday, the dates are adjusted accordingly.

(2)   In the winter, unless instructed by a landlord, we usually don’t turn off services if it is going to be below freezing. (To comply with the landlord’s “wish” to know when the tenants are delinquent in their bills)

Date

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

Dear _____________________:

Rental Address: ______________________________________

This letter is to advise you that the City has sent a disconnect notice to terminate service to the above address. Service may be discontinued on _________________________ due to your tenant’s failure to pay amounts due. The termination will be in accordance with applicable City Ordinances concerning disconnection of services.

The purpose of this letter is to avoid damage to your property resulting from the discontinuance of electrical and water service. Please give written notification prior to the state date if you want services left on in your name and all utilities used thereafter will be billed to you.

This is a courtesy notification. Please let us know if you have any questions.

_____________________

City Clerk

A petty cash fund in the amount of $1,000 is established for the use of the city utilities department, for the purpose of paying postage, freight, temporary labor, and other emergency expenses, including refund of deposits made to secure payment of accounts.

(Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

The petty cash fund shall be deposited in the regular depository bank of the city and paid out on the order of the city clerk by check which shall state clearly the purpose for which issued.

(Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

Whenever the petty cash fund becomes low or depleted, the city clerk shall prepare vouchers covering expenses as have been paid from the petty cash fund and shall submit such vouchers together with the paid checks to the governing body for review and allowance of the amounts from the regular funds of the utilities. Warrants issued therefore shall be payable to the petty cash fund and shall be deposited therein to restore said petty cash fund to its original amount.

(Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

(a)   That any person, firm or corporation within the city’s utility service area desiring city utility connection shall apply to the City Clerk and shall accompany such application with a non-refundable service connection fee of $50.00 for an electrical and/or water connection. No connection shall be made until said service connection fee has been paid and until all bills due for past utility service rendered by the city has been paid.

(b)   That the City may, upon application of any person, firm or corporation adjacent to the City’s power lines or water system may elect to reduce or waive the connection fee set forth subsections (a) above if:

(1)   The person, firm or corporation has, within five years preceding the application, been prior residents, businesses or operations within the City and, during the prior term of residence, business or operation had no delinquent utility payments and left all utility accounts in good standing.

(Ord. 590; Code 2015)