§ 58-35. Meter reading; billing; collecting.

(a)

Meters will be read monthly and bills processed and mailed monthly. The county reserves the right to vary the dates or length of time covered, temporarily or permanently.

(b)

Bills for water will be calculated in accordance with the county's published rate schedule then in effect and will be based on the period covered by the meter readings.

(c)

Charges for service commence when a meter is installed and a connection made, whether used or not. In special situations when the county is installing new water mains, in order to encourage connections, reduced connection fees may be available. Any consumer who takes advantage of a reduced connection will have 60 days to consider whether or not to connect to the service after the meter is installed. During this 60 days there will be no charge for service if the consumer does not connect to the service. After 60 days the consumer will be billed the prevailing minimum monthly charge whether water is used or not. The consumer must continue to pay the minimum monthly charge until such time as the reduced connection fee charged plus all monthly minimum water bills charged equals the then prevailing charge for a tap fee for a meter of the same size. The consumer shall remain liable for a minimum monthly bill thereafter until he has notified the county that he desires to stop his service. At his/her option, the user may request the meter be removed in which case the current prevailing tap fee for that size meter will be charge at the point the meter is reinstalled. All other required fees must also be paid before service can commence.

(d)

Readings from different meters will not be combined for billing with the exception of meter installations that require more than one meter to allow for high and low flow.

(e)

Bills are payable upon receipt and become delinquent on the 16th of the month whereupon a penalty (see county fee schedule) will be added, provided, however; if a payment is received after the 15th of the month and is postmarked prior to the 16th of the month, a penalty will not be charged. If the 15th of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, a late payment will not be charged until the day after the next working day. If the 15th of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, and a mailed payment is postmarked no later than the next working day, a penalty will not be charged. If not paid prior to the 26th of the month, the county will discontinue service. If the county has discontinued service and the customer has not paid the bill in full at the end of 60 days, the county will initiate legal procedures to collect amount due the county.

(f)

Failure to receive bill or notices shall not prevent such bills from becoming delinquent or relieve the customer from payment.

(g)

If check is returned for insufficient funds, a charge, as set forth in the county fee schedule, will be assessed to the customer, and water service will be cut off immediately.

(h)

Two party checks will not be accepted as payment for any debt.

(Ord. of 11-4-91(1), § 11; Ord. of 12-6-93(2), §§ 7, 8; Amend. of 10-2-95; Amend. No. 1, 4-1-96)