[R.O. 2012 §700.300; Ord. No. 662 §1, 6-3-1996]
It is determined and declared to be necessary and conducive
to the protection of the public health, safety, welfare and convenience
of the City to collect charges from all users who contribute wastewater
to the City's treatment works. The proceeds of such charges so derived
will be used for the purpose of operating and maintaining public wastewater
treatment and collection works and the retirement of Revenue Bond
debt incurred to finance the sewer system improvements.
[R.O. 2012 §700.310; Ord. No. 662 §2, 6-3-1996]
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning
of terms used in this Article shall be as follows:
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation
of organic matter under standard laboratory procedures in a period
of five (5) days at twenty degrees Centigrade (20°C), expressed
in milligrams per liter (mg/l). Such BOD shall be determined as described
under the heading "biochemical oxygen demand" in
the Standard Methods of the Examination of Water and Wastewater (latest
edition) as published jointly by the American Public Health Association,
the American Water Works Association, and the Water Pollution Control
Federation.
The incorporated municipality enacting this Article.
Any person, firm, partnership or corporation occupying any
building or structure which is connected to the City sewer system,
the principal use of which is for engaging in commerce or trade, and
having a financial profit as the primary aim.
That portion of the total wastewater service charge which
is levied to provide funds to retire the debt incurred to finance
the sewer system improvements.
Any non-governmental user of the City's wastewater works
that discharges wastes other than primarily domestic wastes or wastes
from sanitary convenience.
The liquid wastes from industrial manufacturing processes,
trade, or business as distinct from sanitary sewage.
Any public or governmental institution or organization occupying
any building or structure which is connected to the City sewer system,
the principal use of which is dedicated to public service, such as
City Hall, schools, churches and civic organizations.
Any wastes having a five (5) day BOD concentration not in
excess of two hundred five (205) mg/l or a suspended solids concentration
not in excess of two hundred fifty (250) mg/l.
All expenditures during the useful life of the treatment
works for materials, labor, utilities, and other items which are necessary
for managing and maintaining the sewage works to achieve the capacity
and performance for which such works were designed and constructed.
Expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories,
or appurtenances which are necessary during the useful life of the
treatment works to maintain the capacity and performance for which
such works were designed and constructed. The term "operation
and maintenance" includes replacement.
Any person occupying any building or structure which is connected
to the City sewer system, the principal use of which is for domestic
dwelling purposes for any person.
Is mandatory; MAY: Is permissive.
Solids that either float on the surface of, or are in suspension
in water, sewage, or other liquids, and which are removable by laboratory
filtering.
Any waste which is deleterious to treatment plant operation
or to sludge utilization, which constitutes a hazard to humans or
animals, or which will create a hazard in the receiving waters of
the sewage treatment plant.
Any devices and systems for the storage, treatment, recycling,
and reclamation of municipal sewage, domestic sewage, or liquid industrial
wastes. These include intercepting sewers, outfall sewers, sewage
collection systems, individual systems, pumping, power, and other
equipment and their appurtenances; extensions improvements, remodeling,
additions and alterations thereof; elements essential to provide a
reliable recycled supply such as standby treatment units and clear
well facilities; and any works, including site acquisition of the
land that will be an integral part of the treatment process or is
used for ultimate disposal of residues resulting from such treatment
(including land for composting sludge, temporary storage of such compost,
and land used for the storage of treated wastewater in land treatment
systems before land application); or any other method or system for
preventing, abating, reducing, storing, treating, separating, or disposing
of municipal waste or industrial waste, including waste in combined
storm water and sanitary sewer systems.
The estimated period during which a treatment works will
be operated.
That portion of the total wastewater service charge which
is levied in a proportional and adequate manner for the cost of operation,
maintenance, and replacement of the wastewater treatment works.
A water volume measuring and recording device, furnished
and/or installed by the City or furnished and/or installed by a user
and approved by the City.
[R.O. 2012 §700.320; Ord. No. 662 §3, 6-3-1996]
A.
The
City of Ash Grove, Missouri, shall collect sewer service charges for
the use of, and the services rendered by said sanitary sewer system
from the owners or occupants of each residence, building or structure
which is connected with the sanitary sewer system of the City of which
discharges sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids,
either directly or indirectly, into the sanitary sewer system of the
City.
B.
Except
as herein otherwise provided, sewer service charges shall be based
on the quantity of water used on or in the property or premises subject
to such charges; shall be computed by applying the rates herein established;
and shall be payable as herein provided.
[R.O. 2012 §700.330; Ord. No. 662 §4, 6-3-1996]
A.
Basis Of Service Charges. Except as otherwise herein provided,
service charges shall be based on one of the following:
1.
On the quantity of water used from any source or sources of supply,
as measured by a water meter or meters acceptable to the City.
2.
On the quantity of sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other
liquids entering the sanitary sewage system of the City and measured
by a sewage meter acceptable to the City.
3.
On the quantity of water as determined by the City or other authorized
representative of the City through a study of the particular service.
4.
On the quantity of sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other
liquids entering the sanitary sewage system of the City as determined
by the City or other authorized representative of the City through
a study of the particular service.
B.
Installation Of Water And Sewage Meters.
1.
Each owner of a private well or other private water supply shall,
at his/her own expense, install and maintain in continuous efficient
operation a water meter acceptable to the City on such private well
or other private water supply. In lieu of installing a water meter,
the owner of a residence may elect to be billed on the basis of two
thousand two hundred (2,200) gallons per month of wastewater discharge
per bedroom in the residence.
2.
The City may permit the installation and maintenance of one (1) or
more sewage meters or additional water meters in such a manner as
to determine the quantity of water actually entering the sanitary
sewage work. Such meters shall be of a type acceptable to the City
and shall be installed and maintained at the expense of the owner
or other party.
3.
Where sewage meters are installed, they shall be of a type approved
by the City and shall be installed and maintained in continuous efficient
operation by the user at his/her own expense.
C.
Maintenance Of Meters. Where installed, all water or sewage
meters shall be maintained by the owner, at his/her expense, in continuous
efficient operation at all times. The readings of any such meter which,
in the opinion of the City, has not been so maintained will be disregarded
and the City or its authorized representative shall determine the
sewage volume delivered to the sanitary system of the City during
the time covered by discredited meter readings.
[R.O. 2012 §700.340; Ord. No. 662 §5, 6-3-1996; Ord.
No. 898 §1, 1-10-2010]
A.
All
users, other than residential users, shall be billed on the basis
of all monthly water consumption as determined by monthly water meter
readings.
B.
The
rates and charges established by this Article shall be applied to
the water consumption billed after this Article shall have been placed
in effect, except as herein otherwise provided. In order that there
be the least sewer service charge to residential water consumers for
water used to maintain lawns, gardens, flowers, shrubs, trees, etc.,
water usage shall be derived from water consumption recorded in periods
when such activities are reduced.
C.
Basis Of Monthly User Charges.
1.
The basis of residential bills shall be the average monthly water
consumption for the months of December, January, February, and March,
or the average consumption for any such months during which water
was used, except as herein otherwise provided. In computing the average
monthly water consumption, the meter readings taken between January
and March shall be used. The average monthly water consumption so
computed for a residence shall be the basis for sewer service charge
billings rendered during the twelve (12) months following the meter
reading date in the month of March.
2.
In cases where a residence first becomes subject, after the meter
reading date in March, to the sewage service charges established herein
and no water meter readings were taken before such date, the owner
or occupant of such residence shall be billed the customer service
charge plus a volume charge, as determined by the City, until a basis
can be established as herein provided.
3.
Averages resulting in a fraction of one-half (½) or greater
of one hundred (100) gallons shall be raised to the next whole number
of one hundred (100) gallons in computing average monthly water consumption
or averages of monthly water consumption.
4.
In multiple housing complexes or combinations of multiple housing
units, apartment housing units, trailer park pads or spaces, the number
of users shall be the number of dwelling units connected to the sewer
system whether served by individual water meters or by a single master
water meter or private water supply.
5.
When a single water meter or private water supply serves multiple
housing complexes, the number of dwelling units occupied shall be
used in computing charges. The owner of such a multiple housing complex
must provide notice to the City within seven (7) days of any changes
in occupancy of the dwelling units. If the City determines that a
dwelling unit becomes occupied without the required notice to the
City, in addition to the ordinary user charges, there shall be a penalty
of fifty dollars ($50.00) imposed for each and every month the dwelling
was occupied without proper notice to the City. Any changes in user
charges will be determined as of the date the City is provided satisfactory
notice that a dwelling unit is unoccupied. No reduction, credit, or
waiver of user charges will be permitted for any prior period of non-occupancy
of a dwelling unit.
[R.O. 2012 §700.350; Ord. No. 662 §6, 6-3-1996]
A.
The
user charge system shall generate annual revenues to pay costs of
annual operation and maintenance including replacement which the City
may by ordinance designate to be paid by the user charge system. That
portion of the total user charge which is designated for operation
and maintenance including replacement of the treatment works shall
be established by this Article.
B.
The
user charge shall generate adequate annual revenues to pay the principal
of and interest on bonds of indebtedness on the treatment works which
the City may by ordinance designate to be paid by the user charge
system. That portion of the total user charge which is designated
for debt retirement shall be established by this Article.
[R.O. 2012 §700.360; Ord. No. 662 §7, 6-3-1996; Ord.
No. 865 §1, 6-26-2008; Ord. No. 1059, 9-5-2017]
A.
The
schedule of sewer service charge rates for operation and maintenance
and debt retirement which shall be applied to the water usage of all
residences, dwelling units, buildings, and structures connected to
the sanitary sewer system of the City shall be as follows:
[R.O. 2012 §700.370; Ord. No. 662 §8, 6-3-1996]
A.
In
order that the rates and charges may be justly and equitably adjusted
to the service rendered, the City shall have the right to base its
charges not only on volume but, also on the strength and character
of sewage and wastes which it is required to treat and dispose of.
The City shall have the right to measure and determine the strength
and content of all sewage and wastes discharged, either directly or
indirectly, into the City's sanitary sewage system in such a manner
and by such method as it may deem practicable in the light of the
conditions and attending circumstances of the case, in order to determine
the proper charge.
1.
Extra charges for discharge of excess BOD. Any customer
who discharges sewage having a BOD concentration in excess of three
hundred (300) mg/l shall pay an additional charge of thirty cents
($0.30) for each excess pound or fraction thereof.
2.
Extra charges for discharge of excess suspended solids by any customer
who discharges sewage having a suspended solids concentration in excess
of three hundred fifty (350) mg/l shall pay an additional charge of
twenty-five cents ($0.25) for each excess pound or fraction thereof.
3.
Extra charges for discharge of toxic substances. Any customer who discharges a toxic substance which is deleterious
to the treatment process or to sludge utilization shall be liable
for all costs incurred by the City in returning the treatment process
or sludge to its proper condition. Such extra charges shall be determined
by the treatment plant operator subject to review and approval by
the Board of Aldermen and shall include, but not be limited to costs
of labor, chemicals and equipment directly used in correcting the
toxic conditions.
[R.O. 2012 §700.380; Ord. No. 662 §9, 6-3-1996]
All sewer service charges established by this Article shall
be a part of, but noted as a separate item on the water bill of each
user and shall be billed, collected and become delinquent at the same
time and in the same manner as such water bill. Any user of the City
sewer system who is delinquent in the payment of the service charge
provided herein shall be deemed to be delinquent in the payment of
the sewer bill and shall be subject to being disconnected from the
sewer system in the same manner and at the same time as provided in
other ordinances for disconnection from the water system. No person
who has been disconnected from the sewer system shall be again connected
thereto until he/she has paid to the City all delinquent sewer bills
in full together with a reconnect charge not to exceed thirty-five
dollars ($35.00) for sewer and water reconnect. Disconnection shall
be by removal of the water meter or physical blockage or disconnection
of the building sewer service line.
[R.O. 2012 §700.390; Ord. No. 662 §10, 6-3-1996]
When it appears that an inequity has occurred, the City or its
designated agent may submit a report to the circumstances and make
recommendations for adjustments of sewer service charges to the Board
of Aldermen. Any recommendation for adjustments must be approved by
said Board before such adjustments shall be effective.
[R.O. 2012 §700.400; Ord. No. 662 §11, 6-3-1996]
The elected officials of the City and other duly authorized
employees of said City bearing identification and written credentials
shall, at reasonable times, be permitted to enter upon all properties
for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling,
and testing in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
[R.O. 2012 §700.410; Ord. No. 662 §12, 6-3-1996]
A.
The
accounting system for the provisions of this Article shall be as follows:
1.
All monies collected under the authority of this Article for operation,
maintenance and debt service shall be accrued to the "Sewer Revenue"
account.
2.
All expenses incurred in the operation and maintenance of the sewer
system shall be charged to the "Sewer Fund Expenditures" account.
Each of the operating expense accounts shall be separated to account
for the sewer system expenses.
3.
A "Sewer System Replacement" account shall be established to provide
for replacement of major items of sewer system equipment as their
useful life expires. Replacement account expenditures shall be restricted
to obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances
which are necessary during the service life of the treatment works
including pumping stations to maintain the capacity and performance
for which such works were designed and constructed. A minimum of four
thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500.00) per year from the revenue
collected shall be accumulated to this account. Appendix "B", on file
in the office of the City Clerk, indicates the method of determining
the sewer system replacement fund amount.
4.
Monies accrued from the rate schedule and extra charges for operation
and maintenance shall be disbursed only for the needs of the sewer
system. Any monies transferred into these accounts from other revenue
sources and used for operational expenditures shall be returned to
their original account through operating efficiency expense reduction
or adjustment to the rate schedule.
5.
Any excess monies in the sewer system accounts at the end of each
fiscal year shall be carried forward and not transferred to other
funds.
[R.O. 2012 §700.420; Ord. No. 662 §13, 6-3-1996]
A.
At
the end of each fiscal year, the balances in the sewer funds shall
be reviewed to insure adequate and equitable rate schedules for the
following year.
B.
Any
operation and maintenance fund balance carried forward shall be identified
by class and credited to the budgeted sewer system expenses for the
following year.
C.
The
rate schedule adopted for any fiscal year shall be adequate to insure
adequate operation and maintenance funds, and to maintain a sufficient
replacement fund to cover costs of anticipated major equipment replacements
and to insure that all customers pay their proportionate share of
the costs of operating and maintaining the sewer system. The City
shall notify each user annually, in conjunction with a regular billing,
of the rates and that portion charged for operation and maintenance
of the sewer system.
D.
Appendices
"A" and "B", on file in the office of the City Clerk, contain the
methodology to be used in calculating the rates for operation and
maintenance and debt retirement.
