The Village shall possess and reserve to itself all the powers
granted to villages by the Constitution and general laws of the State
of Michigan to acquire, construct, own, operate, improve, enlarge,
extend, repair, and maintain public utilities to supply its inhabitants.
Public utilities and services may be furnished by the Village
to properties and users outside the corporate limits of the Village
to the extent allowed by law.
The Council shall establish rates by ordinance or resolution
from time to time as may be deemed advisable for supplying the inhabitants
of the Village, and others, with utility services as the Village may
provide.
The Council shall provide by ordinance or resolution for the
collection of all public utility charges made by the Village. When
any person or persons shall fail or refuse to pay the Village any
sums due on utility bills, suit may be instituted by the Village for
their collection in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Village
shall have as security for the collection of utility rates for services
furnished any person or persons a lien upon the real property, to
the extent provided for by state law, for which a utility is supplied.
The lien shall become effective immediately and may be enforced as
provided by law.
Transactions pertaining to the ownership and operation by the
Village of each public utility shall be recorded in separate accounts
under an appropriate fund caption, and classified in accordance with
generally accepted utility accounting practices. Charges for all services
furnished to, or rendered by, other Village departments or agencies
shall be recorded. An annual report shall be available for inspection
at the office of the Clerk/Treasurer.
