§ 32-51. Billing and collection, shut off, turn on, budget billing.

(a)

The city shall issue a monthly bill for water service based on the amount of water used. The bill shall be paid on or before the due date as specified on the bill. If the bill is not paid within five days after the due date, the city clerk may notify the person responsible that unless the bill is paid within the time specified in the notice, the water service to the premises shall be discontinued until the person has paid the water charges and a service nonpayment fee of $25.00. The city shall restore water service only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on regular working days, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. If the city clerk has notice that the water is supplied to premises other than the mailing address of the person responsible, the city clerk shall notify the occupant of such premises. The clerk has notice only if such addresses are supplied by the person responsible at the time of initiating service, or at some subsequent time prior to the notice of discontinuation. The notice provided by the city clerk may be served by the United States mail, or by delivery to someone 18 years of age or over on the premises; provided that this section shall not apply to any person who is on vacation, or out of the city for a length of time, and who has notified the city clerk in writing to this effect. If water service is discontinued, no unauthorized person shall turn on, or use, the water at the premises, until the outstanding water charges and the service nonpayment fee are fully paid. If an unauthorized person turns on, or uses, the water at such premises, the person responsible pursuant to section 32-48(a) shall pay a tampering fee of $50.00.

(b)

Residential customers may elect to participate in the budget billing plan. Under the plan, the residential customer shall pay a uniform amount for 11 months, with the 12th month amount being used to balance the account. The uniform amount shall be based on the average billing amount of the 12 prior months. If a residential customer participates in the plan, the residential customer is responsible for all charges required under this chapter, which may be paid annually or upon termination of water service by the residential customer.

(c)

If a person is responsible for the payment of fees for water service for more than one property, the city clerk may treat all fees as a single account. If the person fails to pay any portion of the account when due, the city may terminate water services to all properties, subject to the notice provisions of subsection (a).

(Code 1973, § 19-303; Ord. No. 3668, § 4, 1-23-79; Ord. No. 3895, § 1, 11-17-81; Ord. No. 4464, § 2, 11-3-87; Ord. No. 4815, § 1, 9-21-93; Ord. No. 4841, § 1, 3-1-94; Ord. No. 6380, § 1, 12-2-03)