13.15.210 Payment of bills.
(A) Charges for flat rate and metered water service, trash collection and disposal to a consumer or customer shall be payable monthly to the City Clerk or the person as designated by the City Manager. The charges may be itemized and totaled on a single bill, and the bill shall be due and payable when rendered.
(B) All or any portion of the bill provided for in subsection (A) of this section not paid on due date of the month the bill is mailed or presented shall be subject to a late charge of 10%. Should all or any portion of a bill which is outstanding remain unpaid on the 15th day of the following month, a courtesy disconnect notice will be delivered to the property stating that the bill is outstanding and payment must be made within five calendar days from date of the notice. Should all or any portion of a bill which is outstanding remain unpaid five days after the aforesaid courtesy notice, a disconnect notice will be delivered to the property and that service will be discontinued pursuant to procedures set forth in subsection (D) of this section unless the City Manager, for good cause, grants an extension of time. Failure to receive a utility bill or any notice provided hereinabove will not excuse the account holder or any person otherwise responsible for payment from full and timely payment for services rendered.
(C) The provisions of subsection (B) of this section do not apply to public agencies, corporations or firms with whom the City has water contracts containing other provisions for payment for services rendered.
(D) When water service is to be discontinued for nonpayment as provided for in subsection (B) of this section, the City Manager shall cause written notice to that effect to be served by mail, or by leaving a copy of the notice at the location of utility service, addressed to the customer or consumer whose service is to be discontinued. Within five calendar days of service of the notice, the consumer or customer must:
(1) Pay the entire amount due;
(2) Obtain from the City Manager, or his or her authorized agent, the extension of time provided above; or
(3) File with the City Clerk a written request for a hearing before a hearing officer designated by the City Manager to show cause why service should not be discontinued. The hearing officer is hereby authorized to adjudicate contested bills of not more than $500.00. Contested bills of more than $500.00 may be appealed to Council. Filing of a request for hearing will stay the action to discontinue service until the hearing has been held and the findings thereof have been announced. After service of the notice of proposed termination of service and failure on the part of a customer or consumer to avail himself or herself of the remedies provided herein, service may be discontinued forthwith.
(E) In the event the water service of a consumer or customer has been turned off for nonpayment of water charges pursuant to this section or as herein provided, the water service shall be turned on again only upon the payment of all monies due to the City for water services billed through the Water Department as provided herein, and the payment of a reasonable fee set by the Council for restoring water service. (Ord. 79, passed 12-13-1989; Ord. 132 § 4, passed 1-24-1996; Ord. 306 §§ 1, 2, passed 7-13-2011; Ord. 314 § 1, passed 7-11-2012. Code 1982 § 11-2-2. Code 2012 § 52.016.)