§ 19-29. User rates and charges.

(a)

Quarterly water usage rates shall be set on an annual basis by resolution of the city council.

(b)

A water usage account shall be maintained in the name of each property owner connected to the city's water system. The city clerk shall prepare and mail to the owner of each premises connected to the city's water system a statement for water usage furnished thereto during the preceding quarter. Upon the request of a property owner the city will bill monthly if the customer provides an automated deposit into the city's account and agree to receive bills electronically.

(c)

The city clerk shall compute the amount due to the city for water charges and render a quarterly statement thereof. All amounts due as shown on the invoice shall be payable at the municipal building on or before the 21st day of the following month in which the invoice is issued. A penalty of ten percent shall be added to all accounts that are not paid in full by said due date. This penalty shall be computed on the unpaid balance not paid by the appropriate due date at the time each quarterly statement is prepared and presented. The city reserves the right to shut off water service if the account is delinquent for an unreasonable length of time as determined by the city.

(d)

In the event any water service charge is not paid within three months after the time it is rendered, the city council may recover said amount in an action brought in any court of competent jurisdiction, or in the alternative, may certify the amount due together with penalties to the county auditor to be collected with other real estate taxes levied against the premises served.

(e)

When termination of water service is requested by a consumer, the city clerk shall direct the water superintendent to turn off the service to the premises involved. The meter shall be read at that time and a final bill rendered to the consumer. Water service shall not be restored to the premises except upon the payment of all prior service charges.

(f)

In the event a meter is found to have stopped, or to be operating in a faulty manner, the amount of water used by the consumer shall be estimated, which estimate shall be based on prior consumption.

(Ord. No. 6, § 6, 3-11-85; Ord. No. 515, § 1, 12-13-10)