[R.O. 1993 § 705.385; Ord. No.
2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005]
A.
All rules and regulations relating to utility service to be furnished
by the City shall be expressly authorized by these rules and regulations
and no verbal or written promise or commitment by any person shall
be binding on the City:
1.
All contracts for utility service shall be subject to the rules
and regulations adopted by the City.
2.
All applicants for utility service shall be required to sign
such form or service contract as may be acceptable to the City.
3.
All contracts for utility service shall be signed in the true
name of the customer desiring such service and the use of a fictitious
name shall be sufficient reason for the refusal or termination of
service.
4.
The City shall collect wastewater service charges for the use
of, and the services rendered by, the wastewater system from the owners
or occupants of every lot, parcel or real estate or building that
has a connection to the wastewater system or which discharges, either
directly or indirectly, wastes to the wastewater system.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.390; Code 1972 § 30-42;
CC 1988 § 27-112; Ord. No. 78-1735, 8-14-1978; Ord. No.
83-1826 § 1, 7-11-1983; Ord. No. 2002-2500 § 1, 3-12-2002; Ord. No. 2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005; Ord. No. 2023-3288, 5-23-2023]
Residential sewer tap fees, otherwise known as "sewer connection
charges," shall be charged at the rate of one hundred fifty dollars
($150.00) per tap, except at the exact location where a connection
shall be made which is pre-tapped with a wye or tee. For this sum
the City shall be obligated to drill a hole in uniform proportions
in the sewer main and to provide the necessary hardware to be attached
to the sewer main so that a sewer lateral can be attached thereto.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.400; Code 1972 § 30-30;
CC 1988 § 27-92; Ord. No. 98-2350 § 1, 11-10-1998; Ord. No. 2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005]
Unless service has heretofore been granted by written contract,
no residential, commercial or industrial property outside the corporate
limits of the City of Aurora, Missouri, will be permitted to connect
to the public sewer. Industrial businesses located outside the corporate
limits of the City of Aurora may connect to City sewer services upon
approval by the City Council of a written contract agreement to provide
services.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.410; Ord. No.
2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005; Ord. No. 2023-3289, 5-23-2023]
A sewer tap fee for commercial industrial participants in the
sewer system of the City shall be three hundred seventy-five ($375.00)
plus any other costs incurred by the City.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.420; Code 1972 § 30-31;
CC 1988 § 27-93; Ord. No. 2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005]
All required tap fees shall be retained by the City if the City
is participating in the construction costs or by the person constructing
the line if there is no City participation. The City shall receive
and retain all tap fees required sixty (60) days after the line is
constructed, if the City did not participate in the construction cost.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.430; Code 1972 § 30-43;
CC 1988 § 27-113; Ord. No. 83-1826 § 1, 7-11-1983; Ord. No. 85-1891, 7-8-1985; Ord. No. 2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005]
The City Collector shall have the authority and may negotiate
a special payment contract with residential sewer customers for sewerage
service. Once the payment contract has been initiated and the customer
defaults on the contract, the account is subject to disconnection
for non-payment.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.440; Code 1972 § 30-44;
CC 1988 § 27-114; Ord. No. 2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005]
No sewerage services shall be furnished or rendered free of
charge to any person.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.450; Code 1972 § 30-45;
CC 1988 § 27-115; Ord. No. 2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005]
The quantity of water used upon any premises furnished with
sewerage service and for which charges are made shall be measured
by the water meter serving the premises. The Superintendent of the
sewerage system or other designate of the City shall have access to
the premises of such customer at all reasonable times for the purpose
of inspection and testing the water meter and reading the records
thereof.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.460; Code 1972 § 30-46;
CC 1988 § 27-116; Ord. No. 2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005; Ord. No. 2010-2859 § 1, 1-26-2010]
The Superintendent of the sewage system of the City and the
City Collector or such other officers or designates of the City as
may be designated from time to time shall cause all water meters to
be read and bills for sewerage services to be rendered monthly as
services accrue. All bills shall be due and payable from and after
the date such bills are rendered at the office of the City Collector
during the regular hours of business.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.470; Code 1972 § 30-49;
CC 1988 § 27-117; Ord. No. 85-1887, 6-10-1985; Ord. No.
2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005]
The owner of any lot, parcel of land or premises having sewer
connection with the sanitary sewerage system of the City, and the
occupant or user of such premises, shall be jointly and severally
liable to pay for the services to such lot, parcel of land or premises,
and all services are furnished to the premises by the City upon the
condition and stipulation that services are for the benefit of such
owner, occupant or user, and that upon receipt of such services the
owner and occupant and user shall be jointly and severally liable
therefor to the City.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.471; Ord. No.
2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005; Ord. No. 2006-2714 § 1, 4-11-2006; Ord. No. 2016-3071 § 1, 4-26-2016; Ord. No. 2016-3074 § 1, 6-14-2016; Ord. No. 2017-3135, 12-12-2017; Ord.
No. 2020-3204, 11-10-2020]
A.
The
City shall collect a deposit of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00)
upon application for sewer service, either commercial or residential,
and upon successful completion shall authorize the applicant to purchase
and be connected to the Empire District Electric water distribution
system. The amount of deposit may be adjusted by resolution of the
City Council of Aurora without further amendment of this Section.
B.
A waiver
from the deposit may be obtained with a referral from a utility company,
telephone company or cell phone company showing that the customer
has had twelve (12) consecutive months of good payment history with
no delinquencies.
C.
After
twelve (12) consecutive months of no late payments a customer may
request a refund on their deposit. Under no circumstance may a deposit
be refunded unless twelve (12) consecutive months of no late payment
history has been met.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.472; Ord. No.
2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005]
If the contracting customer no longer resides at the premises
as identified in the application, service shall be discontinued and
before service shall be resumed, a new application shall be completed
naming the contracting customer and giving the necessary information
with the required fee.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.473; Ord. No.
2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005; Ord. No. 2016-3074 § 1, 6-14-2016]
A customer who has made application for utility services to
premises shall be held liable for all utilities furnished to the premises
until such time as the customer properly notifies the water utility
provider and the Utility Billing Department of the City of Aurora
to discontinue the services for the customer's account. Verification
by both entities must be made.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.474; Ord. No.
2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005; Ord. No. 2016-3074 § 1, 6-14-2016]
The contracting customer for City utility service is responsible
and liable for the cost of said utility services until the City Utility
Billing Department and water utility provider are notified to discontinue
the services. The responsibility for notification rests with the contracting
customer.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.475; Ord. No.
2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005; Ord. No. 2016-3072 § 1, 4-26-2016[1]; Ord. No. 2020-3205, 11-10-2020]
A.
Upon verification by the contracting customer that City utility services
are discontinued, the City Collector shall promptly refund the deposit
provided there are no charges for the City utility services owed.
The deposit shall not be returned to the contracting customer if there
are charges owed for City utility services but shall be applied to
those charges and the balance, if any, refunded. Unclaimed deposits
will be submitted to the Missouri State Treasurer Office, Unclaimed
Property Division.
B.
Deposits shall be retained by the City in a non-interest-bearing
account at a local financial institution insured by FDIC.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that it would be effective
7-1-2016.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.476; Ord. No.
2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005]
A service charge as set forth in Section 100.290 shall be imposed upon any person or entity who, in an attempt to discharge any indebtedness owed to the City, issues or passed to any City Official or employee any check or other similar sight order for the payment of money which is not honored by the drawee for any reason. The account will then be placed on a cash or money order basis only.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.480; Code 1972 § 30-47;
CC 1988 § 27-118; Ord. No. 85-1887, 6-10-1985; Ord. No.
85-1891, 7-8-1985; Ord. No. 98-2319 § 1, 5-12-1998; Ord. No. 2002-2515 § I, 8-13-2002; Ord. No. 2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005]
A.
All bills for sewerage service shall be due and payable upon receipt
at the office of the City Collector. If any bill shall remain due
and unpaid prior to the seventh day of the next succeeding month for
which services were furnished by the City, unless such due date shall
fall on Sunday or legal holiday observed by the City in which case
the bill shall be due and payable by 12:00 Midnight of the following
business day, it shall be delinquent.
B.
If any bills for services are past due and unpaid after the seventh
day of the following month, a disconnect letter shall be issued stating
that bills for services that remain past due and unpaid for a period
of thirty (30) days will be subject to disconnection. The Collector
shall notify the occupant and owner of the premises receiving such
service, as shown on the City tax records, of the past due account
and that they are jointly liable for the account.
C.
Delinquent bills shall be subject to an interest charge of ten percent
(10%) of the monthly average delinquency each month. The City Collector
or other designee of the City Manager shall initiate appropriate collection
services on all delinquent accounts. The City of Aurora shall be entitled
to recoup the cost of such collection services, including attorneys'
fees, skip tracer fees, small claims court costs or county recording
fees and any collection agency fees. Collection services can include
filing a judgment lien against the land of the property owner, small
claims court, disconnection as hereinafter provided, or other methods
established from time to time by the City Council. The occupant and
user of the premises and/or the owner of the premises receiving sewerage
services shall be liable to pay for the entire cost of such services
rendered.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.490; Code 1972 § 30-48;
CC 1988 § 27-119; Ord. No. 85-1887, 6-10-1985; Ord. No.
93-2117 § 705.490, 8-9-1993; Ord. No. 2002-2515 § 1, 8-13-2002; Ord. No. 2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005; Ord. No. 2010-2859 § 1, 1-26-2010; Ord. No. 2016-3074 § 1, 6-14-2016; Ord.
No. 2020-3207, 11-10-2020]
A.
If any bills for sewerage service shall be and remain past due and
unpaid for a period of thirty (30) days and provided notice aforesaid
has been given, the City shall have the right to disconnect sewerage
services to the premises. The sewerage services shall not be reconnected
until all past due bills have been paid in cash or money order, until
all charges equal to the cost of disconnecting and reconnecting have
been paid, and the deposit as required has been paid to the City.
If bills for sewerage services are delinquent as aforesaid, the City
shall have the right to request that all utility services furnished
to the user or the premises pursuant to license or franchise agreements
be disconnected and discontinued.
B.
The City currently contracts with a water utility provider to terminate
water services to any customer premises for non-payment of a sewer
bill. No such termination of water service may occur until thirty
(30) days after the City provides notice to the customer. Notices
to the customer is provided by way of the monthly mailed bill and
is considered notice that shows amount past due and most current amount
due.
At the end of the notice period, if the total amount due on
the sewer account is not paid, the City shall notify the water utility
provider and the water utility provider shall discontinue water service
until such time as the sewer charges and all related costs/fees of
termination and re-establishment of sewer and water services are paid
by the customer. Requests for reconnection made after 4:00 P.M. on
regular business days shall not be acted upon until the following
business day.
The fees for disconnect/reconnect are as follows:
C.
The Superintendent of wastewater treatment facility upon notification
from the City Collector shall promptly proceed to cause sewerage service
to such user’s premises to be disconnected and the City shall
proceed to enforce collection of such charges by any available legal
remedy.
D.
The City of Aurora has the right to disconnect service in a new residence
for non-payment of a past due account from another residence.
[1]
Cross Reference: See § 705.510(G) for cut-off charge for reconnection of sewer service.
[R.O. 1993 § 705.500; Ord. No.
87-1951 §§ 1-13, 9-21-1987; CC 1988 § 27-120; Ord. No. 88-1974 § 2-3, 10-10-1988; Ord. No. 93-2106 § 1, 5-10-1993; Ord. No. 2001-2471 § I, 8-28-2001; Ord. No. 2001-2471-A § I, 9-11-2001; Ord. No. 2002-2515 § I, 8-13-2002; Ord. No. 2005-2693 § 1, 10-25-2005; Ord. No. 2006-2742 § 1, 11-14-2006; Ord. No. 2007-2770 § 1, 9-11-2007; Ord. No. 2010-2859 § 1, 1-26-2010; Ord. No. 2010-2884 § 1, 9-28-2010]
A.
BOD (DENOTING BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND)
CITY
COMMERCIAL USER
DOMESTIC WASTES
INDUSTRIAL USER
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
RESIDENTIAL USER
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
TOXIC WASTES
Definition Of Terms Used Herein.
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation
of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five (5)
days at twenty degrees Centigrade (20° C.) expressed in milligrams
per liter.
The City of Aurora, Missouri.
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 or
for providing service to the public or individuals; provided, however,
that schools shall be considered as a "commercial user."
Wastes having a five-day BOD concentration not in excess
of two hundred fifty (250) mg/l or a suspended solids concentrations
not in excess of three hundred (300) mg/l.
Non-governmental user of the City's wastewater works that
discharges waste 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 or any pretreated
wastes.
Any person occupying any building or structure which is connected
to the City sewer system, the principal use of which is as a place
or abode for any person or persons on other than a temporary basis.
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.
B.
Collection Of Charges — Charges Based On Quantity Of Water
Used. The City of Aurora, Missouri shall collect sewer service charges
for the use of the services rendered by said sanitary sewer system
from the owners or occupants of every residence, building or structure,
which is connected with the sanitary sewer system of the City or which
discharges sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids,
either directly or indirectly, into the sanitary sewer system of the
City.
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.
C.
Determination Of Usage.
1.
Except as otherwise herein provided, sewage service charges
shall be based on one (1) of the following:
a.
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;
b.
On the quantity of sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water
or other liquids entering the sanitary sewerage system of the City
and measured by a sewage meter acceptable to the City;
c.
On the quantity of sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water
or other liquids entering the sanitary sewerage system of the City
as determined by the City;
d.
On the quantity of water used as determined by the City;
e.
On the percentage of the metered water used entering the sanitary
sewerage system as determined by the City.
The City shall determine which billing method shall be used
and methods other than metered usage shall be used only on a temporary
basis or an unusual circumstance preventing the use of meters.
2.
Installation Of Water And Sewage Meters.
a.
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.
b.
Should a substantial portion of the water consumed by a customer
be used in a commercial or industrial process which precludes the
water being discharged into the sanitary sewer, the City will require
such customers to install and maintain 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 works.
c.
Where such 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.
3.
Maintenance Of Meters. Where installed, all water meters on
private supplies 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 designate shall determine the sewage volume delivered to
the sanitary system of the City during the time covered by discredited
meter reading.
D.
Basis For Computing Bills.
[Ord. No. 2017-3105 § 1, 6-13-2017]
1.
All users, other than residential users, shall be billed on
the basis of monthly usage as determined by monthly water meter or
sewage meter readings as received from the utility company in January,
February and March (December, January and February usage).
2.
Residential users shall be billed based upon the average monthly
usage during the months of December, January and February. The average
monthly usage so determined each April billing shall apply until the
following year. Customers without historic data of usage will be billed
for an amount equal to the average usage of that class of customer
until the next usage determination period.
3.
When an account is placed back into the landlord's name, the
town average of four thousand (4,000) gallons of water usage will
be used to determine the monthly charges unless the landlord has established
his/her own average for that premises.
4.
Water that has been connected in a premises or location shall
initiate sewer usage charges to be applied each month except in the
case of new construction where a certificate of occupancy must first
be issued before a sewer charge is applied.
E.
Rate Schedule. The sewer service charge rates which shall be applied
under this Section shall be as follows: Sewer service charge: Beginning
January 1, 2024, the base rate of nine dollars fifteen cents ($9.15)
per meter per month; a user fee of seven dollars seventy cents ($7.70)
per one thousand (1,000) gallons used.
[Ord. No. 2016-3069 § 1, 4-26-2016; Ord.
No. 2023-3294, 8-8-2023]
|
Additionally, the following scheduled rate increases shall take
effect in January of the following years:
|
1.
January 1, 2025: A base rate of nine dollars sixty-five cents ($9.65)
per meter, per month and a user fee of eight dollars twenty-five cents
($8.25) per one thousand (1,000) gallons used.
2.
January 1, 2026: A base rate of ten dollars fifteen cents ($10.15)
per meter, per month and a user fee of eight dollars eighty cents
($8.80) per one thousand (1,000) gallons used.
F.
Extra Charges. 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 sewerage 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 BOD concentration in excess of two hundred
fifty (250) mg/l shall pay an additional charge of forty-two cents
($0.42) per pound of excess BOD discharged.
2.
Extra Charges For Discharge Of Excess Suspended Solids. Any
customer who discharges sewage having a suspended solids concentration
in excess of three hundred (300) mg/l shall pay an additional charge
of thirty-eight cents ($0.38) per pound of excess suspended solids
discharged.
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 processor sludge to its proper
condition. Such extra charges shall be determined by the treatment
plan operator subject to review and approval by the City Council and
shall include, but not be limited to, costs of labor, chemicals and
equipment directly used in correcting the toxic conditions.
G.
Method Of Billing. All sewer service charges established by this Section shall be stated on a written bill rendered monthly and showing the gallons used, sewer service charge and extra charges, if applicable. Any user of the City sewer system who is delinquent in the payment of the sewer service charge provided herein shall be subject to being disconnected from the sewer 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 all applicable fees per Section 705.500(B).
H.
Adjustments. When it appears that an inequity has occurred, the Superintendent
of the sewage system or City Collector may submit a report of the
circumstances and make recommendations for adjustments of sewage service
charges to the City Council. Any recommendation for adjustments must
be approved by said Board before such adjustments shall be effective.
I.
Inspection — Inspectors — Powers Of Authority. The elected
officials of the City of Aurora and other duly authorized employees
of said City bearing identification shall, at reasonable times, be
permitted to enter upon all properties for the purposes of inspection,
observation, measurements, sampling and testing in accordance with
the provisions of this Section.
J.
Accounting System For Sewer Funds.
1.
All monies collected under the authority of this Section shall
be accrued to one (1) of three (3) sewer funds which shall herewith
be established. A Sewer Operation and Maintenance Fund shall be established
to provide for routine expenses incurred in providing sewer service.
A Sewer Replacement Fund shall be established to provide for replacement
of major items of equipment as their useful life expires. A Debt Service
Fund shall be established to retire revenue bonds and fund bond reserve
accounts.
2.
A minimum amount of twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($12,500.00)
per year from the funds collected under this Section shall be deposited
to the Sewer Replacement Fund. Disbursements from this fund shall
be only for purchasing and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances
to the sewer system which might be required to enable the sewer system
to continue operating at its design capacity.
3.
A variable amount per year from the funds collected under this
Section shall be deposited to the Sewer Debt Service Fund. Disbursements
from this fund shall apply to reserve funds and to payment of principal
and interest upon sewer system revenue bonds as required by the revenue
bond sales ordinance.
4.
The remaining funds collected under this Section shall be deposited
to the Sewer Operation and Maintenance Fund. Disbursements from this
fund shall be only for the purpose of operating and maintaining the
sewer system.
K.
Transfer Of Monies To Funds.
1.
In the event either of the sewer funds shall be deficient for
operation and maintenance or replacement needs at a given time, monies
may be transferred from other City funds; provided, however, that
such monies shall be replaced through prompt collection of revenues
under this Section or through adjustment of the rate schedule in this
Section.
2.
Any excess monies in the Operation and Maintenance Fund at the
end of each fiscal year shall be carried forward in that fund and
shall not be transferred to any other City fund.
3.
Nothing in this Section shall prohibit transfer of funds from
other sources into the Sewer Debt Service Fund, nor shall any limitation
be placed upon return of such transferred funds.
L.
Review Of Rate Schedule.
1.
At the end of each fiscal year, the balance in the sewer funds
shall be reviewed to insure adequate and equitable rate schedules
for the following year.
2.
Any Sewer Operation and Maintenance Fund balance carried forward
shall be identified by class and credited to the amount due from the
customer class in order to meet the budgeted sewer system expenses
for the following year.
3.
The rate schedule adopted for any fiscal year shall be designed
to insure adequate sewer operation and maintenance funds and to maintain
a sufficient sewer replacement fund to cover costs of anticipated
major equipment replacements.
4.
The City shall notify each customer of the current rate schedule
each year by including a rate schedule with a regular bill.
