§ 14-25. Meter readings, billings and collection.

(a)

Mailing, payment, penalties and interest. The city shall read water meters on a monthly basis. Following the monthly meter reading, bills to customers for water, sewer and/or garbage services shall be generated with a billing date and mailed or transmitted electronically if so elected by the customer on a monthly basis. The outstanding balance of each bill is due ten days from the date of the bill. Bills shall be deemed paid upon receipt of payment at city hall. Failure to receive bills or notices shall not prevent the bills from becoming delinquent nor relieve the customer from payment of the same. The failure of water, sewer and/or garbage customers to timely pay charges duly imposed shall result in the automatic imposition of the following penalties and interest:

(1)

Nonpayment within 20 days of the date of the bill will result in a penalty of ten dollars being applied to the delinquent account.

(2)

Nonpayment within 30 days of the date on the bill will result in water and/or sewer service being disconnected and/or garbage service being discontinued. Disconnection of water for any customer on a payment plan is governed by subsection (b)(2). Reactivation of a disconnected account is governed by subsection (c).

(3)

All accounts more than 30 days past due from the date on the bill shall bear interest until paid at the rate of one percent per month (12 percent APR) or such other rate as may be set in the future by resolution of the council.

(4)

Nonpayment for 60 days after the due date will allow the city, in addition to all other rights and remedies, to terminate the account and apply the security deposit towards the outstanding balance.

(5)

In the event that a customer makes application for water, sewer, or garbage service and it is determined that said customer has or had an outstanding balance due to the city, the city is not obligated to supply any such services until all outstanding bills are paid in full including the reconnection fees set forth in chapter 2, section 2-110, late fees prescribed in chapter 14, section 14-25(a)(1), and applicable interest charges pursuant to chapter 14, section 14-25(a)(3).

(b)

Payment plan. A payment plan may be initiated to allow customers making application for new water, sewer, or garbage service to satisfy a balance due provided the amount due is greater than $75.00 or to allow existing customers to avoid disconnection and pay down a balance due greater than $75.00.

(1)

New applicants. A payment plan may be initiated to allow customers making application for new water, sewer, or garbage service to satisfy a past due balance greater than $75.00.

a.

Any balance due less than $75.00 will require full payment with the application.

b.

Ten percent of the balance due is required with the application to activate new service and a monthly or weekly payment plan will be established for the remainder due.

c.

If any payment due under the payment plan is more than five days late, the water will be disconnected and all services terminated.

d.

Nothing herein exempts applicant from paying the requisite security deposit or tolls the accruing of interest on the unpaid balance.

(2)

Existing customers. A payment plan may be initiated to allow an existing customer with a past due balance greater than $75.00 to satisfy the balance due and avoid disconnection.

a.

Ten percent of the balance due is required for the customer to initiate the payment plan and a monthly or weekly payment plan will be established for the remainder due.

b.

If a payment due under the payment plan is more than five days late, the water will be disconnected and all services terminated.

c.

Nothing herein tolls the accruing of interest on the unpaid balance or exempts the customer from paying their regular monthly bill on time as the payment plan set forth in this subsection is only for a prior outstanding balance.

(c)

Conditions for reconnection. Service disconnected for nonpayment of bills will be restored only after all outstanding bills are paid in full including the reconnection fees set forth in chapter 2, section 2-110, late fees prescribed in chapter 14, section 14-25(a)(1), and applicable interest charges pursuant to chapter 14, section 14-25(a)(3).

(d)

Return check fee. A service charge in the amount charged to the city by the city's bank plus the sum of $35.00 will be charged on all checks returned to the city for insufficient funds, account closed, or any other reason.

(Ord. of 5-6-1997, § 7; Ord. of 8-2-2010, §§ 1, 2; Ord. of 9-10-2018, § 2)