§ 78-51. Water and sewer connection charges and other utility charges.

(a)

Water connection fee and water service charge. The water connection fee and water service charges shall be as follows:

(1)

Connection fee. Charges for tapping water mains for each tap shall be as follows:

Meter Size	Meter Installation Tap-In Charge(1)	Meter Installation Charge
5/8 ″	$470.00	$230.00
¾″	490.00	250.00
1″	640.00	320.00
1½″	1,160.00	690.00
2″	1,230.00	710.00
Above 2″	Actual cost	Actual cost

 

(1) Includes both meter installation and tap-in charge.

Above two inches, the actual cost shall be the costs of labor and materials, including, but not limited to, the costs of the meters, meter boxes, corporation stops, valves, street crossings and appurtenances thereof, plus a surcharge of 20 percent to cover engineering and administration costs as determined by the city. But in no event shall that fee be less than the fees charged for a two-inch service. All meters and appurtenances thereto shall be and remain the property of the city, except as otherwise specified in this article.

To the extent that the cost of performing installation services is extraordinary and not typical relative to the fees being charged for such service as contained in this section, or if the service line is modified from its original purpose to meet the applicant's requirements, all as determined by the city, the city shall charge the applicant requesting service the actual cost of such services and/or modifications in accordance with the application provisions of subsection above.

(2)

Turn-on charges. There will be a charge of $15.00 to turn on the water supply of any user during normal working hours when service has been cut off or discontinued from the applicant's premises for nonpayment of current bills, or the return of a check because of insufficient funds, or when commencing new service, and after normal hours there will be a charge of $30.00.

(3)

Late fee. A service charge of $5.00 will be added to the account of each user whose bill is not paid by the due date.

(4)

Initiation of service request. There will be a charge of $10.00 to process a request to initiate service only. This does not include the fee associated with the physical turn-on of utility service.

(5)

Meter re-read or special read. There shall be a charge for meter re-read if the meter is requested to be a re-read or a special read is requested more than once in a 12-month period, or, if there was no error in the initial meter reading. For requests after the one time allowance, a fee of $20.00 shall be charged on the next month's bill, provided no error was detected. Additionally, this fee shall be added to the meter test fee if a test has been requested.

(6)

Meter testing. The public services department shall have the right to test meters to determine their accuracy whenever it sees fit, but if a user demands a test when, in the judgment of the public services department, the meter is operating correctly, the user shall pay a fee of $50.00 for each test performed by the public services department.

(7)

Return check fee. A return-check fee of $25.00 shall be charged to the user in the event a check for payment on the user's account is returned for insufficient funds, stopped payment or closed account.

(8)

Search fee. The city shall have the right to charge a search fee to conduct research on fees due to the city for a specific parcel serviced by the water and/or waste water system when such information is requested by third parties, including, but not limited to, requests for such information by a title company, closing agent, mortgagee, broker, or potential buyer. The amount of any such fee or charge may be established and modified by resolution or ordinance of the city commission.

(b)

Sewer connection fee. There shall be a charge for tapping sewer mains, which shall be the cost of labor, materials and equipment, together with a surcharge of an additional 20 percent of the costs to cover engineering and administrative costs as determined by the city, but in no event shall the cost be less than $910.00.

No sewer service shall be connected until the plumbing and connections incident thereto shall have been inspected and approved by the city plumbing inspector.

(c)

Irrigation only meter connection fee. There shall be a charge for tapping water mains for irrigation for each tap and water connection equal to the cost, as determined by the city, of labor, materials and equipment, together with a surcharge of an additional 20 percent of such costs to cover engineering and administrative costs, but in no event shall the amount charged be less than the amount charged for the ¾ inch size meter.

(Code 1988, § 22-41; Ord. No. 98-88, § 1, 12-10-98; Ord. No. 99-64, § 1, 1-13-00; Ord. No. 00-21, § 1, 4-13-00; Ord. No. 01-23, § 1, 5-10-01; Ord. No. 09-66, § 2, 11-10-09; Ord. No. 11-02, § I, 1-13-11)