For purposes of this article utility services shall include water and sewer or any other utility services provided by the city.

(Code 2007; Ord. 733)

Unless otherwise provided, water and sewer, or any other city-provided utility service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges in accordance with sections 15-103.

(Code 2007; Ord. 733)

Water or other utility service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges. Termination of service shall occur if such utility fee or charge is not paid in full at the city offices by the close of business on the 28th day of the month in which such fee or charge was billed to the customer. The city shall send delinquent notices for nonpayment of service fees or charges to the customer at the customer’s last known address by the 16th of each month notifying the customer that service shall be terminated if such fee or charge is not paid in full at the city offices by the close of business on the 28th day of the month in which such fee or charge was billed to the customer.

(Ord. 597, Sec. 2; Code 2007; Ord. 733)

(a)   At the time of making application for utility service, the property owner or customer shall make a non-refundable payment as prescribed in section 1-118 to the city for turning on the water service and establishing the new account.

(Ord. 516; Code 2007; Ord. 694; Code 2016; Ord. 733; Ord. 766)

(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 mailed 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 billings for the utility service to said premises, interest, late payment charges and a reconnection charge, if applicable, is paid in full.

(c)   If utility service is furnished to leased premises on the application and request of the lessor of the premises, then all billings for utilities furnished to such leased premises shall be made directly to the lessor, and the lessor shall be fully liable for the cost of service furnished.

(Ord. 616, Sec. 5; Code 2007; Ord. 733)

(a)   Should the holder of a utility account die or leave permanently, the person still residing therein shall establish service under their name within 30 days of the triggering event.

(1)   In the case of a death, a spouse continuing to live at the residence shall be named as the account holder on the existing account without need for a new account application.

(2)   In the case of the account holder permanently leaving the residence, the remaining resident shall make application for the utilities to change to a new account under their name.

(3)   A triggering event shall include absence from the residence or death.

(b)   For the purposes of this subsection Permanently Leaving shall be defined as an absence by the account holder from the residence for at least thirty (30) calendar days.

(c)   Verified military duty wherein a spouse or adult relative remains in the residence or other verified civilian work assignment shall not be considered permanently leaving.

(d)   Should the sole account holder die and the premises is rented or sold to another party, a new account must be established for service.

(e)   Utility account holders or users of utility accounts shall notify the City Clerk within ten (10) work days of any change to the utility account information. Failure to do so may result in suspension of utility service until the situation is rectified and the application of any applicable fees for reconnection or other fees which apply are paid.

(Ord. 716; Ord. 733; Ord. 741)