[Adopted 2-14-2005]
The Town Board of the Town of Lawrence has the specific authority under § 60.77, Wis. Stats., and the general authority under its village powers to adopt this article.
The purpose of this article is to establish a mechanism to recover the costs imposed on the Town of Lawrence ("Town") by the Central Brown County Water Authority ("Water Authority") to fund the additional capacity built into the Water Authority's water supply facilities to handle future growth. To fund this additional capacity, the Water Authority charges the Town of Lawrence for new or increased connections to the Town's water system. The purpose of this article is to pass those charges on to the property owner seeking the new or increased connection since that property owner is directly responsible for the costs imposed on the Town by the Water Authority.
Each person, corporation, partnership, public agency, or other entity (hereinafter referred to as "water user") shall obtain a permit from the Town before installing a new water meter. The Town of Lawrence Administrator shall determine the size of the water meter necessary or appropriate to provide service to the water user.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
Except as provided in § 286-31 of this article, each water user who obtains a permit under § 286-28 shall pay a water supply capacity charge to the Town at the time of the application for the permit. Such water supply capacity charge shall be calculated as set forth in §§ 286-30 and 286-32 of this article and shall equal the charge imposed by the Water Authority on the Town.
Except as provided in §§ 286-31 and 286-32, the amount of the water supply capacity charge shall be based upon the size of the meter to be installed. The water supply capacity charge shall equal an amount provided in the Town Fee Schedule multiplied by a factor determined by the size of meter to be installed. The size of the meter and the appropriate factor are set forth on the following table:
Meter Size
(inches)
Factor
Under 1
1.0
1
1.6
1.5
3.0
2
5.2
3
9.6
4
16.4
6
30.0
8
52.0
10
78.0
12
132.0
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
A. 
A water user who obtains a permit pursuant to § 286-28 may apply for an exemption from paying water supply capacity charges if the permit relates to:
(1) 
Alterations or expansion of an existing building where no additional or larger water meter connections are requested.
(2) 
The replacement of a building or structure with a new building or structure of the same size and use where no additional or larger water connections are requested and where the use is not changed.
(3) 
A decrease in meter size.
B. 
Any claim for an exemption must be made no later than the time of application for a permit for a new water meter or a change in water meter size. Any claim not so made shall be deemed waived.
A current water user who obtains a permit under § 286-28 to increase its meter size shall be eligible for a credit toward the water supply capacity charge imposed under § 286-30. Such credit shall equal an amount equal to the amount of a water supply capacity charge calculated on the size of the meter to be replaced. For example, if water user applies for a permit to change from a five-eighths-inch meter to a one-inch meter, the water supply capacity charge to the water user would equal the charge for a one-inch meter less the charge for a five-eighths-inch meter. In no case shall a credit exceed the amount of the water supply capacity charge.
All required water supply capacity charges, unless expressly excepted in § 286-31 of this article, shall be paid in full prior to issuance of a permit under § 286-28. Payment of the water supply capacity charge is the responsibility of the property owner of record at the time a permit under § 286-28 is requested.
Water supply capacity charges paid to and collected by the Town shall be placed in a segregated, interest-bearing account called the "Water Supply Capacity Charge Account." Such funds shall be accounted for separately from other of the Town's general and utility funds.
All funds, excluding interest, accumulated in the Water Supply Capacity Charge Account established by the Town shall be turned over to the Water Authority semiannually on dates established by the Water Authority. The Water Authority shall use the funds to reduce fixed costs of the Water Authority. Any interest income earned by the moneys in the Water Supply Capacity Charge Account need not be turned over to the Water Authority but may be used by the Town to help pay administrative costs of implementing this article.
The Town may waive the collection of a water supply capacity charge from any property owner if the Town itself agrees to be responsible for the payment of such charge.