A.Â
Generally. The Common Council of the City of Oneonta
shall cause all water rents to be collected in advance in so far as
practicable, at such time or times as the Common Council shall direct.
It shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, a list or roll containing
the name of each person, company, corporation or association owning
lots or buildings indebted or to become indebted to the City for the
use of water or water meters or for service or other charges in connection
with said supply of water. It shall then proceed to fix and set down
in a separate column the amount of said charges to be known as "water
rents," accrued and chargeable upon each lot, part of lot or building.
The amount of such water rents shall be fixed by said Council according
to their best judgment, in proportion to the amount of water consumed
or likely to be consumed or in proportion to the benefits accruing
thereto.
B.Â
Assessment. The Common Council shall authorize the
City Chamberlain to receive, levy and collect the several sums specified
and assessed against each person, company, corporation or association
owning lots or buildings which are connected to the public water supply
in proportion to the amount of water consumed or likely to be consumed
or in proportion to the benefit accruing thereto.
C.Â
Collection. The City Chamberlain is authorized to
collect water rents as assessed. The procedure for collection, as
well as the times and rates for payment or the imposition of penalties,
late fees or other expenses or costs, shall be established from time
to time by resolution of the Common Council.
[Amended 12-21-1999 by Ord. No. 1-2000]
D.Â
Lien for water rents. Such water rents shall be a
lien on the property upon which the water is used, and such liens
shall be superior to every other lien or claim, except the lien of
an existing tax.
E.Â
Disposition of money. All water rent fees, penalties
and interest collected herein shall belong and be credited to the
Water Fund.
F.Â
Omission from rent roll. In the event that the water
rent accrued and chargeable upon any lot, part of lot or building
is omitted from any water roll for any cause, it shall be included
in the next roll after such omission is discovered and shall be collected
in the same manner and have the same lien and in all respects have
the same force and effect as do other water rents.
A.Â
Authorization to contract. If the Board of Public
Service shall recommend, the Common Council may contract with and
sell to any person, firm or corporation without the limits of the
City the right to make connection with the distributing pipes of the
City, for the purposes of drawing water therefrom, at such prices
and on such conditions as the Common Council shall be set by contract,
but such rate shall not be less than that charged City consumers.
B.Â
Limitation. No such right shall be granted or in any
way enforced when, by so doing, the supply for the wants and necessities
of the City or its citizens shall be thereby curtailed. The City shall
have the right and power to cancel any contract or right to water
outside City limits without liability at any time, any agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding.
The City Council may provide in the Water Department
Rules and Regulations enacted as hereinbefore provided relating to
the use of water that, upon violation thereof, it may and it shall
have the power to cut off the supply of water, in addition to other
penalties therein prescribed. Upon the nonpayment of water rents when
due, the City may cut off the supply of water leading to the premises
against which water rents remain unpaid and prevent the further use
of water thereon until the such rents, interests, costs and charges
are paid, together with any charge or charges, fines or penalties
which the Common Council may fix for shutting off said water as aforesaid
and for turning on the water again for use on or in said premises.
This section and such rules and regulations shall be applicable to
all water customers and all property having water connections, both
in and outside the City limits.
