Assessment of connection/hookup and monthly sanitary service fees shall
apply to all dwelling units, businesses, institutions and industries established
either through new building construction or through conversion or modification
of an existing structure.
A.
Hookup fees.
(1)
The minimum hookup fee for single-family detached residential
units shall be $2,000 per dwelling unit.
(2)
The minimum hookup fee for all multifamily residential, institutional, commercial and industrial developments shall be the greater of the fees derived by utilizing the methodologies contained in Subsection A(2)(a) and (b) below.
(a)
Calculate the maximum projected wastewater flow for the
total development, property, area, site, uses or connections, then divide
the maximum total projected wastewater flow by the equivalent dwelling unit
flow figure of 250 gpd; finally multiply the resulting maximum total projected
EDU figure by $2,000.
(b)
Multiply $2,000 by the number of dwelling units and institutional,
commercial and industrial uses or enterprises in the same structure or on
the same premises.
(3)
New or modified local and remote facilities needed to service residential, institutional, commercial and industrial areas, sites, developments or premises shall be provided per § 125-40. The Sanitary District shall credit new connectors to the District's facilities 50%, up to but not exceeding $1,000, of the cost of new vacuum valves and tanks when and where needed to provide service. No credit shall be granted when and where an installed vacuum valve and tank are available and adequate for connection of service.
B.
When there is a change in the occupancy, use or size of a building previously connected and the connection fee for the new use, occupancy and/or size, using the fees and methodology in Subsection A, would be greater than for the original use, occupancy and/or size, then an application for the changed connection shall be made and a connection fee in the amount of the difference between the fee that would be applicable for the original use, occupancy and/or size and the changed connection shall be paid. The connection fees existing at the time of application shall be used to calculate connection fees for the changed occupancy, use or size of a building or use.
C.
The connection fee shall be assessed all connectors.
Its payment grants the connector authorization to connect to the system for
the use, occupancy and size of the use permitted. When reconstruction of a
razed or removed building is commenced within a twelve-month period and the
connection fee for the reconstructed building, using the fees and methodology
above, would be greater than for the original use, occupancy, and/or size,
then an application for the changed connection shall be made and a connection
fee in the amount of the difference between the fee that would be applicable
for the original use, occupancy, and/or size and the reconstructed building
shall be assessed. The reconstructed building or use shall comply with all
other provisions of this chapter. The connection fees existing at the time
of application shall be used to calculate connection fees for the changed
occupancy, use or size of a building or use.
D.
In the event reconstruction is not started within a twelve-month
period of the building's razing or removal, a building subsequently erected
on the site shall be considered a new connection for which a new application
must be submitted and approved, and a new connection fee shall be assessed
based upon the new building's or use's total use/occupancy and/or size, i.e.,
no credit of the fee paid for the previous use/occupancy or size of the building
shall be granted. Said new connection shall comply with all other provisions
of this chapter.
E.
Authority of governing body.
(1)
The governing body of the Sanitary District may, by separate
agreement with a connector, owner or developer, enter into a reimbursement
or connection/hookup fee credit agreement for remote facilities which may
be required by the Sanitary District.
(2)
The governing body may waive a portion of the connection/hookup
fees and/or remote facilities costs for sewer facilities installed under federal-
or state-funded sewer projects. The portion of the fees and/or costs that
are waived shall be considered a Sanitary District/County of Mathews financial
participation in the sewer project.
(3)
The governing body may authorize the payment of part
or all of the connection/hookup fees and/or the remote facilities costs from
the general fund for those commercial or industrial connectors, developers
or owners which the governing body determines would be in the best interest
of the County of Mathews' economic development and which would generate significant
employment and/or local revenues.
A.
Except as provided in § 125-39E, the connector or applicant shall construct and pay for all local and remote collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal facilities required to service, treat and dispose of the projected wastewater flows generated by the connector/applicant in accordance with the other provisions of this chapter and to ensure continued satisfactory service to the other existing and future connections on the system. When requested by the connector, and when the work could be accomplished within the capability and existing workload of the District, the District may construct local facilities for a connector, charging the connector a local public facilities fee calculated to cover time, equipment and materials, plus 25% for overhead and miscellaneous costs. Normally such construction would be limited to the vacuum portion of a service lateral and the vacuum valve and holding tank. This policy shall apply to all new buildings and uses as well as changes in the occupancy and/or size of a building previously connected which, due to such new building or use or change in the occupancy and/or size of a building previously connected, necessitates the construction of new or modified collection, conveyance, treatment or disposal facilities in order to service the projected wastewater flows generated by the connector/applicant.
B.
The evaluation of connections on treatment and disposal
facilities may include, but need not be limited to, consideration of both
the effects of the projected wastewater flows generated by the connector/applicant
on the wastewater treatment plant's design, permit and treatment capacities
and discharge outfall size and location as well as the flows' effects on the
plant's wastewater treatment process. This evaluation may require study and
appraisal of the existing and projected wastewater flows' volume, timing,
nature, composition, sludge generation, chemistry, hydrology, hydraulics and
treatment properties. The evaluation of local and remote collection and conveyance
facilities shall include, but need not be limited to, force mains, collection
lines, service laterals, vacuum valves and pumping and booster stations and
the projected wastewater flows' effects on the facilities' capacities and
capabilities to collect and convey the existing and additional flows. The
evaluation of projected wastewater flows on local and remote collection, conveyance,
treatment and disposal facilities may include the flows' effects on the Sanitary
District's ability to meet and comply with its VPDES permit final effluent
limits, standards, conditions and requirements.
C.
All necessary local, state and federal permits must be
obtained before service is activated.
Nothing herein shall obligate the Sanitary District to provide additional,
expanded or extended sewer service to the improvements or premises listed
on an approved application for service or a subdivided portion thereof. Nothing
herein shall prohibit the Sanitary District from charging additional fees
or levies for new or modified sewer service provided to the improvement(s)
and premises listed on an approved application.
In addition to the provisions of §§ 125-39, 125-40 and 125-41, the hookup fee for each industrial development user and site shall be evaluated and determined by the governing body on a case-by-case basis. The governing body may assess an additional hookup fee on industrial users where the Sanitary District's VPDES permit requirements and/or the nature, composition, hydraulics, hydrology, flow characteristics and treatment properties of the projected wastewater flows require special or heretofore unavailable local or remote collection, conveyance, treatment and/or disposal facilities, testing, operations, processes or maintenance.
Hookup fees and receipts for local and remote facilities, when collected,
shall be deposited into a sinking fund account titled "Enterprise Account,
Mathews Courthouse Sanitary District, Capital Projects" and shall be used
for the future maintenance, improvement, expansion, extension, location or
relocation of the Sanitary District's facilities and shall not be utilized
for funding the normal operation and routine maintenance of the Sanitary District.
A.
For multiple residential, institutional, business and
industrial units and users in the same structure or on the same premises or
property, each dwelling unit and nonresidential use within the same structure
or on the same premises or property constitutes a separate sewer user and,
hence, separate customer accounts are established and separate user fees are
assessed. The owner of the premises is responsible for financial obligations
incurred by the owner, his/her tenants or other occupants on the premises
and provision of service to his/her premises.
B.
Monthly service charges as per use classification shall
be as follows:
Use Classification
|
Charge
| |
---|---|---|
Residential, single-family and multifamily dwelling
|
$16.00 per dwelling unit minimum
| |
Schools
| ||
High schools
|
$3.38 per pupil minimum effective FY 1993-94 and $3.75 per pupil minimum
effective FY 1994-95; the average daily membership figure for the month of
October shall be used in computation for the following 12-month period
| |
Elementary and intermediate schools
|
$2.25 per pupil minimum effective FY 1993-94 and $2.50 per pupil minimum
effective FY 1994-95; the average daily membership figure for the month of
October shall be used in computation for the following 12-month period
| |
County Courthouse square
|
$575.00 minimum effective FY 1993-94 and $650 minimum effective FY 1994-95
| |
School Board office
|
$62.50 minimum effective FY 1993-94 and $75.00 minimum effective FY
1994-95
| |
Mathews Health Department
|
$100.00 minimum effective FY 1993-94 and $125.00 minimum effective FY
1994-95
| |
Mathews Volunteer Fire Department
|
$30.00 minimum
| |
Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad
|
$30.00 minimum
| |
Masonic lodge
|
$30.00 minimum
| |
Churches
|
$30.00 minimum
| |
Laundromats
|
$18.00 per machine effective in FY 1993-94 and $23.00 per machine effective
in FY 1994-95; $75.00 per connection minimum
| |
Restaurants
|
$2.50 per seat of seating capacity; $50.00 per connection minimum
| |
Service stations
| ||
Full service and repair
|
$50.00 minimum
| |
Without service and repair
|
$40.00 minimum
| |
Recreational parks
|
$112.50 per connection minimum effective FY 1993-94 and $125.00 minimum
effective FY 1994-95
| |
Banks; savings and loan; furniture and appliance stores; United States
Post Offices; all other general business and commercial customers not listed
otherwise herein
| ||
Employees
|
Charge
| |
0 to 1
|
$16.00
| |
2
|
$30.00
| |
3 to 6
|
$45.00
| |
7 to 14
|
$65.00
| |
15 to 21
|
$80.00
| |
22 to 29
|
$95.00
| |
30 to +
|
$110.00
| |
Food stores
| ||
Square Feet
|
Charge
| |
0 to 3,000
|
$45.00
| |
3,001 to 6,000
|
$90.00
| |
6,001 to 9,000
|
$135.00
| |
9,001 to 12,000
|
$180.00
| |
12,001 to 15,000
|
$225.00
| |
Over 15,000
|
$225.00 plus $45.00 for each additional 3,000 square feet of floor space
| |
Beauty shops
|
$15.60 per washing bowl; $50.00 per connection minimum
| |
Funeral homes
|
$85.00 minimum
| |
Mathews Memorial Library
|
$62.50 minimum effective FY 1993-94 and $75.00 minimum effective FY
1994-95.
| |
Department of Social Services
|
$100.00 minimum effective FY 1993-94 and $125.00 minimum effective FY
1994-95
| |
Dentists' and doctors' offices
|
$50.00 minimum
| |
Car washes
|
$85.00 per bay minimum
| |
Nursing/convalescent homes; hospitals
|
$13.00 per bed minimum effective FY 1993-94 and $15.00 per bed minimum
effective FY 1994-95 regardless of occupancy and may be increased if governing
body determines that special features such as whirlpools may noticeably affect
level or quality of discharge; $500 per connection minimum
|
C.
Until the governing body has an opportunity to amend Subsection B to establish a monthly charge classification, uses complying with all other provisions of this chapter and approved by the Board or Administrator for connection to the District's facilities but not provided for or listed in the schedule given in the aforesaid section shall be assessed a monthly service charge determined by multiplying the dividend resulting when the projected wastewater flows per day for the use is divided by 250 gallons per day (i.e., equivalent dwelling unit) by the existing residential dwelling unit monthly service charge. In determining the projected wastewater flows for the use the same criteria and policy shall be used as is contained in § 125-46.
Surplus monthly service charges, deposits, reconnection fees and other
non-connection-related charges over and above expenditures for any one financial
year period shall be deposited in an operating reserve and may be used for
the normal and future operation, maintenance and improvement of the District's
facilities and the payment of other District financial obligations.
In projecting or estimating wastewater flows for the purposes of determining connection/hookup fees per § 125-39, determining monthly user fees per § 125-44 and determining the need and provision of local and remote facilities per § 125-40, the District may utilize criteria for design for sewage works, historical data, sanitary sewer studies and other wastewater flow criteria from the District, the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia State Water Control Board, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the applicant for service, other wastewater generators of like or similar nature, other public and private sanitary sewerage entities and/or consulting engineers, firms and agencies.
The Board or Administrator, in order to evaluate and render a decision on a proposed or pending application or as a condition of an approved application to determine and assess hookup fees and monthly charges per § 125-44C or to monitor or regulate the volume of wastewater discharge may require the owner or developer, at his/her expense, to install measuring equipment and monitor the water consumption/sewage flows of any existing or proposed connections, buildings or uses on the premises. The Sanitary District shall have access to said measuring and metering facilities at all reasonable times. The owner or developer shall not modify, alter or otherwise tamper with such water or sewer metering equipment whose installation has been required or approved per this section.
A.
The grace period for payment of all bills shall be 30
calendar days. At the expiration of this time, a penalty of 10% of the total
bill shall be incurred.
B.
In all cases where there are delinquent charges due the
Sanitary District, the owner of record of the property shall be held responsible
or liable for payment of these outstanding accounts.
Customers requesting discontinuance of or establishment of new accounts
for service shall be billed on the number of months or part thereof in the
billing period when service was provided.
Any owner of a premises who has connected, or who shall hereafter connect,
the sewerage facilities of such premises to the facilities of the District
shall be liable for the payment of all charges made for service rendered to
such premises until such owner makes application for discontinuance of service
on the forms furnished by the Sanitary District Administrator or his/her agent
and secures the approval of the Sanitary District Administrator or his/her
agent therefor.
Any owner of a premises intended for occupancy by renters, tenants or other transients shall pay, prior to occupancy of said premises, a deposit equal to one billing period (i.e., two months) for the use classification(s) of the premises per § 125-44B. The deposit shall be used to defray part or all of delinquent monthly service charges and late charges and interest on the same accrued by the occupants or owner of said premises. The deposit shall be refunded the owner upon written notice by the owner that the premises is not occupied by renters, tenants or transient occupants and is not intended for reoccupancy by renters, tenants or other transient occupants. This requirement shall not apply to hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts and other like or similar institutional or commercial establishments.
A.
The Sanitary District Supervisor shall keep an accurate
record of all premises and owners thereof which are served by the facilities
of the District and shall bill each owner every two months in accordance with
the monthly service charges as fixed by the Board.
B.
The Treasurer shall collect all remittances for connection
permit fees, deposit fees, reconnection fees, discontinuance and resumption
of service charges, inspection fees, etc., and shall account for them in the
same manner as hereinbefore described.
C.
The Treasurer shall furnish monthly reports concerning
the status of the funds of the District to the Board and Administrator.
D.
Any claim made for abatement from any bill, account,
or charge shall be filed by the owner in writing with the Sanitary District
Administrator and shall not effect an extension of the time for payment, but
such disputed bill, account, or charge shall be in arrears from and after
the last day allowed for such payment. Adjustment may be made by the Administrator
subject to appeal to the Board, and any charge in excess of the amount finally
found to be correct will be refunded to the owner by the Board.