[R.O. 2009 §700.040; CC 1976 §26-5; R.O. 1954 §159; Ord. No. 83 §1, 2-4-1957; Ord. No. 2555 §1, 9-22-2014]
The general operating and fiscal policy for the Municipal Utilities shall be to operate said utilities as a self-sustaining enterprise with revenue sufficient to cover operating costs, interest and depreciation, amortization of debt, and all extensions and improvements. All revenue derived from the operation of said Municipal Utilities shall be separately accounted for and deposited in Department.
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Editor's Note—At the City's direction this section "Appointment Of Chief Administrator— General Powers, Duties" which derived from R.O. 2009 §700.050; CC 1976 §26-6; and R.O. 1954 §160 was deleted prior to the 2010 codification. This section will remain "reserved" for the City's future use.
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Editor's Note—At the City's direction this section "Chief Accounting Officer Designated— General Powers, Duties" which derived from R.O. 2009 §700.060; CC 1976 §26-7; and R.O. 1954 §161 was deleted prior to the 2010 codification. This section will remain "reserved" for the City's future use.
[R.O. 2009 §700.070; CC 1976 §26-8; R.O. 1954 §162; Ord. No. 2555 §1, 9-22-2014]
All bills of the Municipal Utilities and all salaries of its employees shall be paid in the same manner as other bills and salaries of other officers of the City are paid. All contracts and official acts of the Municipal Utilities shall be executed in the same manner as other contracts and official acts of the City are executed.
[R.O. 2009 §700.080; CC 1976 §26-9; Ord. No. 734 §§1—2, 3-4-1974; Ord. No. 742 §1, 7-1-1974; Ord. No. 873 §§2—3, 6-15-1977; Ord. No. 921 §§2—3, 1-3-1978; Ord. No. 1956 §§1—3, 10-1-2001; Ord. No. 2555 §1, 9-22-2014; Ord. No. 2729, 5-21-2018]
A. 
The City Clerk is authorized and directed to transfer six percent (6%) of the gross revenue of electricity sales and water sales from the Municipal Utilities of the City of Higginsville to the General Fund and distribute the same among various funds of the City of Higginsville, Missouri, according to the annual budget.
B. 
This transfer fund shall be in lieu of an annual franchise tax on said Municipal Utilities.
[R.O. 2009 §700.090; CC 1976 §26-14; Ord. No. 948 §§1—2, 4—7, 7-17-1978; Ord. No. 949 §§2—3, 5—7, 8-7-1978; Ord. No. 1423 §1, 3-20-1989; Ord. No. 1940 §§1—2, 8-6-2001; Ord. No. 2555 §1, 9-22-2014; Ord. No. 2730, 5-21-2018; Ord. No. 2946, 8-15-2022]
A. 
The following deposits shall be required of all new utility services provided by the City of Higginsville, Missouri, as follows:
Water/Sewer
Required Deposits Electricity
Trash
Residential
$120.00
$150.00
$30.00
Construction Service
N/A
$100.00
N/A
Commercial-Small
Determined at application
Determined at application
N/A
Commercial-Large
Determined at application
Determined at application
N/A
Industrial
Determined at application
Determined at application
N/A
For any customer with a history of delinquency, an additional amount of deposit will be required, based upon prior usage for that customer.
1. 
Amount Of Utility Service Deposit Required For Commercial Users. The amount of the required deposit will be the estimated average two (2) month bill for that business, in that location, over the next twelve (12) month period. This estimated two (2) month bill will be arrived at by one (1) of the following three (3) methods, at the City's sole option:
a. 
An average, based on the previous twelve (12) months actual consumption history at the particular location, times the current rates.
b. 
An actual engineering estimate, to be prepared by the utility, based on the actual types of equipment and physical plant involved in the location.
c. 
The estimated two (2) month billing, based on those billings rendered to comparable businesses at other locations.
The City of Higginsville shall be responsible for the determination of the appropriate deposit amounts.
2. 
Form Of Deposit. Deposits required under this Section may be made in any one (1) of the following types:
a. 
Cash or cash equivalents (Certificates of Deposit, savings accounts or other time deposits, which are pledged to the City).
b. 
Surety Bonds.
c. 
A letter of "Guarantee of Payment" from a Federally insured bank or savings and loan.
B. 
No utility service, nor any garbage, trash or rubbish collection, shall be provided until the applicant has made the appropriate deposit to the City Clerk of the City of Higginsville, Missouri.
C. 
A separate deposit shall be required for each water meter and each electrical meter that is requested, with the following exception:
1. 
Multiple electrical and water meter services shall meet the following required deposits:
Three (3) through five (5) services
$200.00
Six (6) through ten (10) services
$250.00
2. 
The deposits for multiple electrical and water meter services shall cover the following only:
a. 
Rental property, in order to protect the landlord's property when vacant, or to furnish utilities to landlord's tenant.
b. 
Construction services, when used for this purpose, within a period of one (1) year or less, with the intent of becoming permanent installations.
3. 
To constitute an electrical and water meter service, one (1) service shall be comprised of one (1) electrical meter and one (1) water meter, which shall constitute one (1) service for the purpose of this Section.
D. 
All construction services will be metered and electrical use shall be charged in accordance with Section 705.010.
E. 
The definition as to the types of customers referred to in this Section shall be determined by the definitions as set out in Article I of Chapter 705.
F. 
The deposit for the appropriate utility service or collection service shall be made with the City Clerk of the City of Higginsville, Missouri.
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Cross References—Garbage, trash and rubbish collection, charges, §245.080; utility service rates, §§705.010, 710.010.
[Ord. No. 2791, 4-15-2019]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to tamper with any facilities or structures of the public utilities of the City of Higginsville. This includes, but is not limited to, electric or water meters, utility poles and towers, transmission lines, equipment, fences, buildings, vehicles, and other properties of the City of Higginsville public utilities. All connections and/or disconnections of any utility service shall be made by qualified employees of the City of Higginsville, or under written permit of the City for such connection.
B. 
Penalty for Misdemeanor. Any person in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction thereof, shall be subject to punishment under Section 100.080 of the Code of Ordinances. Each twenty-four-hour period in which any such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.
C. 
Liability to the City. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall become liable to the City for any expenses, losses of revenue, or damage to the equipment or property by reason of such violation. Violators of this Section will be denied applicable utility services until the City is reimbursed for all costs.