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Village of Pleasant Prairie, WI
Kenosha County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Pleasant Prairie 5-2-1988 as §§ 13.01 to 13.16 and 13.40 of the 1988 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
All persons now receiving a water supply from the Utility, or who may hereafter make application therefor, shall be considered as having agreed to be bound by all rules and regulations as filed with the State Public Service Commission.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
The provisions of Ch. PSC 185, Wis. Adm. Code, are adopted by reference and made a part of these rules as if set forth in full. A violation of any of such rules shall constitute a violation of this section and shall be punishable as provided in § 355-20.
A. 
Village Board to operate. The management, operation and control of the water system for the Village is vested in the Village Board, which shall serve as the Water Utility. All records, minutes and all written proceedings thereof shall be kept by the Village Clerk; the Village Treasurer shall keep all financial records of such utility.
B. 
Powers. The Water Utility of the Village shall have the power to construct waterlines for public use and shall have the power to lay water pipes in and through the alleys, streets, and public grounds of the Village, and generally, to do all such work as may be found necessary or convenient in the management of the water system. The Water Utility shall have power by itself, its officers, agents, and servants, to enter upon any land for the purpose of making examination or supervise in the performance of its duties under this chapter, without liability therefor, and the Village shall have power to purchase and acquire for the Water Utility all real and personal property which may be necessary for construction of the water system or for any repair, remodeling, or additions thereto.
C. 
Condemnation of real estate. Whenever any real estate or any easement therein or use thereof shall, in the judgment of the Village, be necessary to the water system, and whenever, for any cause, an agreement for the purchase thereof cannot be made with the owner, the Village Board shall proceed with all necessary steps to take such real estate easement or use by condemnation in accordance with the Wisconsin Statutes.
D. 
Title to real estate and personalty. All property, real, personal and mixed, acquired for the construction of the water system, and all plans, specifications, diagrams, papers, books, and records connected therewith, and all buildings, machinery, and fixtures pertaining thereto, shall be the property of the Water Utility.
A. 
Application. Every person connecting with the water system shall file an application in writing to the Village Clerk in such form as prescribed for that purpose.
(1) 
Blanks for such application must state fully and truly all uses intended. Additional uses or changes in stated uses will not be allowed except upon further application and permission regularly obtained from the Village Board.
(2) 
If the applicant is not the owner of the premises, the written consent of the owner must accompany the application.
(3) 
Persons whose premises are connected to the Village Water Utility are referred to herein as "users."
(4) 
If it appears that the service applied for will not provide adequate service for the contemplated use, the Village Board may reject the application. If the Village Board approves the application, it shall issue a permit for services as shown on the application.
B. 
Deposit. Each user shall, prior to hookup and to guarantee payment of all charges herein, pay a deposit in cash in the amount equal to the minimum quarterly water charge, such charge to be determined by the type of service by which the property is connected to the mains. Such deposits shall be refunded after two years of timely payment of quarterly charges or when the user moves from the premises, whichever is first, providing all charges are current.
C. 
User to repair. All users shall keep their own service pipes in good repair and protected from frost, at their own risk and expense, and shall prevent any unnecessary waste of water. All expenses relating to the connection with the water system shall be paid by the applicant. No charge, however, shall be made for the services of the Director of Public Works in directing where and in what manner the mains shall be tapped and excavations made in the street for laying pipe.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
D. 
Use restricted. No user shall allow others to connect to the water system through his lateral.
E. 
User to permit inspection. Every user shall permit the Water Utility or its duly authorized agent, at all reasonable hours of the day, to enter his premises or building to examine the pipes and fixtures and the manner in which the water is used, and must at all times, frankly and without concealment, answer all questions put to him relative to its use.
F. 
Utility responsibility. It is expressly stipulated that no claim shall be made against the Village Water Utility by reason of the breaking, clogging, stoppage, or freezing of any service pipe; nor from any damage arising from repairing mains, making connections or extensions or any other work that may be deemed necessary. The right is hereby reserved to cut off the service at any time for the purpose of repairs or any other necessary purpose, any permit granted or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding. Whenever it shall become necessary to shut off the water service within any district of the Water Utility, the Village Clerk or agent shall, if practicable, give notice to each and every user within such district of the time when the service will be shut off.
G. 
Meters. The owner of any premises shall provide a location for a water meter and maintain such location and passageway thereto clean and sanitary and free from any obstruction or any condition hazardous in nature. No connection for water meters shall be installed in any location not easily accessible or which is, or may be, unclean, unsanitary, or in any manner unsafe to Utility employees in the discharge of their duties.
A. 
In making excavations in streets or highways for laying service pipe or making repairs, the paving and earth removed must be deposited in a manner that will occasion the least inconvenience to the public.
B. 
No person shall leave any such excavation made in any street or highway open at any time without barricades, and during the night, warning lights shall be maintained at such excavation.
C. 
In refilling the opening after the service pipes are laid, the earth shall be laid in layers of not more than nine inches deep and each layer thoroughly compacted to prevent settling. This work, together with the replacing of sidewalks, ballast and paving, shall return the street to a condition at least as good as before it was disturbed and satisfactory to the Director of Public Works. No opening of the streets for tapping the pipes will be permitted when the ground is frozen.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
A. 
No persons, except those having special permission from the Water Utility or persons in their service and approved by them, will be permitted, under any circumstances, to tap the water mains or distribution pipes. The kind and size of the connection with the pipe shall be that specified in the permit or order from the Water Utility.
B. 
Pipes should always be tapped on the top, and not within six inches (15 cm) of the joint, or within 25 inches (60 cm) of another connection.
A. 
All waterlines on private property, whether underground or within a structure, will be installed in accordance with Ch. SPS 382, Wis. Adm. Code, Design, Construction, Installation, Supervision, Maintenance and Inspection of Plumbing; specifically § SPS 382.40, Water supply systems.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
B. 
The building's waterline shall be inspected upon completion of placement of the pipe, before backfilling, and tested before and after backfilling.
C. 
All water service laterals installed within the Village shall have a permanent, operable control valve installed by the Utility contractor or homeowner within three feet of the point where the water service first enters the building. When a water meter is provided, the building control valve shall be located upstream of the water meter. This control valve shall be installed at the time of water lateral installation to facilitate the Village's installation of the meter horn. All valves shall be one inch in size or be reduced down with adaptors so that a one-inch male fitting can be installed by the Village Water Utility. Valves shall be gate or ball valves and shall be one-hundred-twenty-five-pound rated with a cast bronze body and brass trim, as manufactured by Red-White Value Corporation or equal comparison. Additional reference: § SPS 382.40(4)(b)3a, Wis. Adm. Code, as amended from time to time.
[Added 8-23-1993; amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
D. 
Water service lines and curb stops shall be located outside of any paved, hard surface driveway approaches or driveway areas where a new water service is installed for all existing one- and two-family dwellings. In all new subdivisions, water service lines and curb stops must be utilized in their designed and approved locations. If the water service curb stop falls within the driveway approach or driveway surface, the property owner shall sign a letter of indemnification with the Village, holding the Village harmless for any and all future liability, loss, or damage associated with any work as may be required by the Village within the property owner's paved portion of the driveway which is located in the Village road right-of-way. This letter of indemnification shall be recorded with the Register of Deeds, with the recording fee paid by the property owner. The water service curb stop located within the driveway approach or paved surface shall be isolated with expansion material.
[Added 8-23-1993; amended 6-17-2002 by Ord. No. 02-33]
E. 
Each individual single-family dwelling unit shall require its own water service lateral. If a single-family dwelling exists with a commercial/business on the same property, each dwelling shall have its own water service lateral.
[Added 9-18-2000 by Ord. No. 00-49]
F. 
A licensed master plumber is required to make the interior piping connection and disconnection, as required by the Wisconsin State Plumbing Code, of a water service when a single or two-family residential dwelling is currently serviced by a well, after a permit is issued by the Village of Pleasant Prairie.
[Added 9-18-2000 by Ord. No. 00-49]
All water service within the limits of the Village from the street main to the property line and including all controls between the same will be maintained by the Water Utility without expense to the property owner unless such damage is a result of negligence or carelessness on the part of the property owner, a tenant, or an agent of the owner, in which case they will be repaired at the expense of the property owner. All water services from the point of maintenance by the Utility to and throughout the premises must be maintained free of defective conditions by and at the expense of the owner or occupant of the property.
The property owner is held responsible for payment within the prescribed period of all water bills on premises that he owns. All water bills and notices of any nature relative to water service shall be addressed to the owner and delivered to the premises referred to on such bill or notice.
The Utility shall have the right to recover from all persons any expense incurred by the Utility for the repair or replacement of any water pipe, curb-cock, gate valve, hydrant, or valve box damaged in any manner by any person by the performance of any work under his control or by any negligent act. Owners or operators of motor vehicles shall be liable for the cost of repair of any hydrant damaged by them, and the Utility shall not be responsible for damage to the motor vehicle by reason of such accident.
Whenever premises served by the Utility are to be vacated or whenever any person desires to discontinue service from the Utility, the Utility must be notified in writing. The owner of the premises shall be liable for any damages to the property of the Utility by reason of failure to notify the Utility of a vacancy or any damage occurring to the property of the Utility other than through the fault of the Utility or its employees, representatives or agents.
All water services, charges, and special assessments shall be a lien on a lot, part of a lot or land on which water services were supplied. All sums which have accrued during the preceding year and which are unpaid by the first day of October of any year shall be certified to the Village Clerk to be placed on the tax roll for collection as provided by the Wisconsin Statutes.
A. 
A unit of service shall consist of any residential, commercial, industrial or charitable aggregation of space or area occupied for a distinct purpose, such as a residence, apartment, flat, store, office, industrial plant, church or school. Each unit of service shall be regarded as one user.
B. 
Suites in houses or apartments with complete housekeeping functions (such as cooking) shall be classed as apartment houses; thus houses and apartments having suites of one, two or more rooms with toilet facilities, but without kitchen for cooking, are classed as rooming houses.
C. 
When a user's premises has several buildings for which services are eligible and such buildings are used in the same business and connected by the user, the Water Utility shall set a separate rate for such complex.
[Amended 6-5-2006 by Ord. No. 06-26; 6-20-2011 by Ord. No. 11-16]
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to protect consumers and the public water supply system of the Village from the possibility of contamination or pollution due to a backflow of contaminants into building plumbing and/or into the public water supply system.
B. 
A "cross connection" shall be defined as any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate systems, one of which contains potable water from the Village water system, and the other, water from a private source, water of unknown or questionable safety, or steam, gases or chemicals, whereby there may be a flow from one system to the other, the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two systems.
C. 
No person shall establish or permit to be established, or maintain or permit to be maintained, any cross-connection. No interconnection shall be established whereby potable water from a private, auxiliary or emergency water supply, other than the regular water supply of the Village, may enter the supply or distribution system of such municipality, unless such private, auxiliary or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of such supply shall have been approved by the Water Utility and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in accordance with § NR 811, Wis. Adm. Code.
D. 
It shall be the duty of the Water Utility to cause inspections to be made of all properties served by the public water system where cross-connection with the public water system is deemed possible. The frequency of inspections and reinspections based on potential health hazards involved shall be as established by the Water Utility and as approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in accordance with § NR 811, Wis. Adm. Code.
E. 
Upon presentation of credentials, the Water Utility, Village and/or its representative shall have the right to request entry at any reasonable time to examine any property served by a connection to the public water system of the Village for cross-connections. If entry is refused, such representative shall obtain a special inspection warrant under § 66.0119, Wis. Stats. On request, the owner, lessee or occupant of any property so served shall furnish to the inspection agency any pertinent information regarding the piping system or systems on such property.
F. 
The Water Utility is hereby authorized and directed to discontinue water service to any property wherein any connection in violation of this section exists and to take such other precautionary measures deemed necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water system. Water service shall be discontinued only after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing under Ch. 68, Wis. Stats., except as provided in Subsection G. Water service to such property shall not be restored until the cross-connection(s) has been eliminated in compliance with the provisions of this section.
G. 
If it is determined by the Water Utility that a cross-connection or an emergency endangers public health, safety or welfare and requires immediate action, and a written finding to that effect is filed with the Village Clerk and delivered to the customer's premises, service may be immediately discontinued. The customer shall have an opportunity for hearing under Ch. 68, Wis. Stats., within 10 days of such emergency discontinuance.
H. 
The Village of Pleasant Prairie adopts by reference the State Plumbing Code of Wisconsin, being Ch. SPS 382, Wis. Adm. Code. This section does not supersede the state plumbing codes but is supplementary to them.
A. 
Notice to connect. Whenever the public sewer or water system becomes available to any public, commercial, mercantile or business building, or any building used for human habitation, the Village Administrator shall notify in writing the owner, agent or occupant thereof to connect thereto all facilities required by the Village Administrator. If the person to whom notice has been given fails to comply within 10 days after notice, the Village Administrator may cause the necessary connections to be made, and the expense thereof shall be assessed as a special tax against the property pursuant to § 281.45, Wis. Stats.
[Amended 3-2-2009 by Ord. No. 09-04; 8-17-2020 by Ord. No. 20-31]
B. 
Deferred payment. When required by § 281.45, Wis. Stats., payment may be deferred as described therein.
[Amended 8-17-2020 by Ord. No. 20-31]
C. 
Privies and waterless toilets prohibited. After connection of any building to a sewer main hereunder, no privy or waterless toilet shall be used in connection with such building.
D. 
When it has been determined by the Village Administrator that any public, commercial, mercantile or business building, or any structure used for human habitation, has access to municipal sewer or water and has not connected within the one-year period provided for with the installation of said utilities, the Village Administrator may cause no less than three proposals from licensed and qualified contractors and plumbers to be secured for the construction, installation, connection and restoration of the private utility service. The lowest and best qualified contractor may be authorized to commence work. Upon completion of said work, the person receiving the service may be assessed the cost for the work as a special tax against the property pursuant to § 281.45, Wis. Stats.
[Added 7-20-1992; amended 8-17-2020 by Ord. No. 20-31]
E. 
Nothing in this § 355-15 shall be interpreted to limit the Village’s authority to impose special charges as described in § 66.0627, Wis. Stats., or special assessments as described in § 66.0703, Wis. Stats., and § 11-3 of this Code.
[Added 8-17-2020 by Ord. No. 20-31]
[Amended 1-6-2003 by Ord. No. 03-03; 6-5-2006 by Ord. No. 06-26; 8-6-2012 by Ord. No. 12-22]
A. 
Purpose.
(1) 
To prevent unused and/or improperly constructed wells from serving as a passage for contaminated surface or near surface waters or other materials to reach the usable groundwater. These wells shall be properly filled and sealed.
(2) 
To prevent unused, unsafe and noncomplying wells from acting as vertical conduits for aquifer contamination or as sources of unsafe water that could enter the public water system through cross-connections.
B. 
Required well abandonment. Wells that do not have a valid operational permit issued pursuant to Subsection D below, wells which are not routinely used, wells which are in noncompliance with Ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code, or wells which test bacteriologically unsafe shall be property sealed and abandoned in accordance with Ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code, by an established date not to exceed one year from date of connection to the public system or date of discovery or construction.
C. 
Coverage. All private wells located on any premises which are served by the public water system of the Village shall be properly filled by June 1, 1985. Only those wells for which a well operation permit has been granted by the Village of Pleasant Prairie may be exempted from this requirement, subject to conditions of maintenance and operation.
D. 
Well operation permits. A permit may be granted to a well owner to operate a well for a period not to exceed five years if the following requirements are met:
(1) 
The well and pump installation meet the requirements of Ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code, and the well constructor's report is on file with the Department of Natural Resources, or certification of the acceptability of the well has been granted by the Private Water Supply Section of the Department of Natural Resources.
(2) 
The well has a history of producing safe water and in accordance with § NR 810.16, Wis. Adm. Code, presently produces bacteriologically safe water as evidenced by one sample. A minimum of one safe sample be taken prior to issuing or reissuing the permit to establish that the water is bacteriologically safe.
(3) 
The proposed use of the well can be justified as being necessary in addition to water provided by the public water system.
(4) 
No physical connection shall exist between the piping of the public water system and the private well in accordance with § NR 812.26, Wis. Adm. Code.
E. 
Cost of well operation inspections and permits. The cost of a well inspection and to obtain a well operation permit is established in the Village Fee Schedule, which permit is valid for five years. This cost will be added onto your utility bill. In the case of a shared well, only the parcel containing the physical well will be required to obtain a permit. Any residence connected to a shared well must pass all required inspections and produce one safe water sample as is required by the permit holder. Failed well inspections will result in the need for a reinspection, which is an additional fee as established in the Village Fee Schedule per inspection.
[Amended 8-20-2018 by Ord. No. 18-34; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
F. 
Methods. Wells to be abandoned shall be filled according to the procedures outlined in Ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code. The pump and piping shall be removed and the well checked for obstructions prior to plugging. Any obstruction or liner shall be removed.
G. 
Reports and inspection. A well abandonment report shall be submitted by the well owner to the Department of Natural Resources on forms provided by that agency. The report shall be submitted immediately upon completion of the filling of the well.
[Added 9-13-1993]
A. 
Purpose, intent. It is the purpose and intent of this chapter that the health, safety and welfare of the public of the Village of Pleasant Prairie be promoted by the performance of water tests for residents of the Village. It is the purpose of this chapter to provide for water tests to be performed by the Village of Pleasant Prairie.
B. 
Definitions. In this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:
WATER
Water which is used for potable purposes.
WATER TESTS
A sample which shall be evaluated for the presence of bacteria.
C. 
Village Administrator to develop rules. The Village Administrator shall develop rules for the implementation and enforcement of this chapter.
D. 
Cost. Water tests shall be as established in the Village Fee Schedule
[Amended 3-18-2002 by Ord. No. 02-16; 6-4-2012 by Ord. No. 12-21; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
[Added 3-1-2004 by Ord. No. 04-20]
The Village shall allocate the costs associated with public fire protection based on the property values of all parcels within the Public Fire Protection District. [Note: Mechanism to charge for PFP services in § 196.03(3)(b), Wis. Stats.]
A. 
For this purpose, the property value of all real estate parcels not exempt from general property taxation will be equal to the assessed value established in the year prior to the year of collection. In instances where building improvements are sited on leased land, the assessed value of the building, if valued as personal property, shall be added to the assessed value of the land to produce a total property value.
B. 
For those properties exempt from general real estate property taxes, a property value will be determined pursuant to the valuation procedures outlined in the Wisconsin Statutes, including but not limited to § 70.32, Wis. Stats., as may be amended from time to time, and in a manner commensurate with the valuation of taxable real property in the Village. In instances where building improvements are sited on leased land, the value of the building, if valued as personal property, shall be added to the value of the land to produce a total property value.
[Added 3-1-2004 by Ord. No. 04-20]
A. 
Purpose. This section provides the only allowable means for owners of real property that is exempt from general property taxation to question a value or revaluation of property made pursuant to § 355-18.
B. 
Board of Review meeting.
(1) 
Meeting. Upon receiving properly filed written objections, the Board of Review, organized pursuant to Chapter 18, Article VI, Board of Review, of this Code, shall meet the third Tuesday in October for the purpose of hearing and deciding disputes regarding values of properties exempt from general property taxation. At that meeting, the Board of Review shall take testimony and other evidence pursuant to the procedures in Subsection D below for properly filed written objections. [Note: Parallels the meeting provisions in § 70.47, Wis. Stats.]
(2) 
Assessor present. The Village Director of Assessment Services or designated staff shall be present at the meeting. [Note: Parallels § 70.47(3)(ag), Wis. Stats.]
C. 
Notice. At least 15 days before the meeting under Subsection B, or at least 30 days before in any year in which the taxation district conducts a revaluation under § 70.05, Wis. Stats., the Department of Assessment Services shall issue written notice of the property value of each tax-exempt property only if the Department arrives at a value different than the value used in the previous year. The notice shall be sent by ordinary mail to the owners of such properties and shall include the date of the meeting under Subsection B and the property owner's rights to be heard at that meeting pursuant to the terms of this section. [Note: Parallels § 70.47(2), Wis. Stats.]
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
D. 
Objections.
(1) 
A property owner who disputes the value or revaluation for which they receive notice under Subsection C may file with the Board of Review Clerk written objections on the forms provided by the Board of Review and in compliance with § 70.47(7)(ae), Wis. Stats. Such written objections must be filed by at least 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the meeting under Subsection B. The Board of Review Clerk shall notify the Board of Review and the Village Director of Assessment Services of each written objection within 24 hours of receipt of the objection. [Note: Parallels § 70.47(7), Wis. Stats.]
(2) 
The Board of Review may consider objections first presented in writing at the meeting under Subsection B if good cause is shown explaining why written objection could not be made pursuant to this section. [Note: § 70.47(3)(a)4, Wis. Stats.]
(3) 
Persons who own land and improvements to that land may object to the aggregate valuation of that land and improvements to that land, but no person who owns land and improvements to that land may object only to the valuation of that land or only to the valuation of improvements to that land. [Note: Restates provision in § 70.47(7), Wis. Stats.]
E. 
Procedures. The Board of Review shall use the procedures in § 70.47(8), Wis. Stats., as may be amended from time to time, to hear objections filed pursuant to Subsection D. Proceedings under this section are also subject to the provisions of § 70.47(7)(aa), (ac), (ae) and (af), Wis. Stats.
F. 
Board's duties and authority. The Board of Review shall correct all apparent errors in description or computation for all property values disputed pursuant to Subsection D. The Board of Review may adjourn from time to time until all objections are heard and decided and shall provide notice of the revised schedule to parties whose objections under Subsection D remain pending. [Note: Parallels § 70.47(6), Wis. Stats.]
G. 
Correction of values. From the evidence before it, the Board of Review shall determine whether the Director of Assessment Services' value is correct. If the value is too high or too low, the Board of Review shall raise or lower the assessment accordingly and shall state on the record the correct assessment and that that assessment is reasonable in light of all of the relevant evidence that the Board of Review received. A majority of the members of the Board of Review present at the meetings to make the determination shall constitute a quorum for purposes of making such determination, and a majority vote of the quorum shall constitute the determination. In the event there is a tie vote, the assessment shall be sustained. [Note: Parallels § 70.47(9)(a), Wis. Stats.]
H. 
Notice of decision. The Board of Review shall provide the objecting property owner notice by personal delivery or by mail, return receipt required, of the amount of the assessment as finalized by the Board of Review and a statement of appeal rights pursuant to Subsection I. Upon delivering or mailing the notice under this subsection, the Board of Review Clerk shall prepare an affidavit specifying the date when that notice was delivered or mailed. [Note: Parallels § 70.47(12), Wis. Stats.]
I. 
Further objections. A property owner who disputes the Board of Review's decision under Subsection H may use the procedures available under Wisconsin Statutes to further challenge that decision. [Note: Statutory appeal options include certiorari review under § 70.47(13), Wis. Stats.]
Except as otherwise provided herein, any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter, or any regulation, rule or order made hereunder, shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a penalty as provided by Chapter 1, § 1-4, of this Code.