POLICY FOR PROCESSING LATE CHARGES AND WATER DISCONNECTIONS
- Water Meters will be read by the City between the 25th and the 27th of each month. Statements reflecting these meter readings will be mailed out to water customers prior to the last day of the month.
- Water statement payments are due and shall be received by the 15th of the month. IF you are sending your payment via USPS please plan accordingly for the payment to be in office on the 15th.
- Payments not received by 11:59 pm on the 15th shall incur late charges of $25.00.
- Water disconnect letters will be sent no later than 10 days prior to disconnection. This letter will be sent to the customer and the owner/landlord and all outstanding charges must be prior to the date on the letter. Failure to make payment or payment arrangements will result in water shut off. A copy of the City’s current disconnect letter is attached to this policy and incorporated herein.
- Water shut offs for non-payment will occur the last Thursday of the month at 10:00 A.M. If the last Thursday falls on a holiday the water will be disconnected by the City the following Monday. Once the water is shut off there will still be a monthly charge for the minimum of the water, storm water and garbage.
- If City utilities are turned off, outstanding charges, including late fees and reconnect fees must be pain in full prior to reconnection. Reconnect fees are $50.00 during regular business hours (7:30 am – 3:30 pm weekdays), and $100 after regular business hours.
- Disconnect letters shall include the following:
- The name, address and telephone number of the employee with whom the resident may direct their questions or complaints regarding their pending water disconnection.
- The resident may make arrangements for a payment plan in advance with the City Clerk to avoid water shut offs. A copy of the City’s current payment plan application is attached to this policy. Disconnection will occur if the resident does not follow through with the agreed upon payment plan. This is a one-time usage payment plan unless proven to be a medical necessity
- If the resident disagrees or disputes the pending water disconnection, they must request a conference in writing to the City Office within seven (7) calendar days to discuss the disconnection. If requested, the disconnection will not occur prior to the conference. Any conference requested in writing must be held in 14 days of the City’s receipt of a customer’s written request. A customer may appeal the decision from the conference to the City Council in writing which must occur 5 business days prior to the next regular scheduled monthly council meeting.
- Residents who are recipients of state aide may qualify for assistance in payment of their water bill, these residents should contact their case workers in that regard.
- Disconnection shall be postponed or prevented upon presentation of a duly licensed physician’s, physician’s assistant or advanced practice registered nurse’s certificate which shall certify that the domestic subscriber or resident within the subscriber’s household has an existing illness or handicap which would cause such subscriber or resident to suffer an immediate and serious health hazard by the disconnection of the water’s service to that household. Such certificate must be filed with the City within five (5) days of receiving notice of disconnection, excluding holidays and weekends, and will prevent the disconnection of water service for a period of at lease thirty (30) days from such filing. Only one (1) postponement of disconnection shall be allowed for each incident of non-payment of any past due account.