[Adopted 4-9-1996 by Ord. No. 96-002 (Ch. 100)]
To permit the protection of the public and the proper control, attachment, and inspection of all new utility connections and laterals, the City of Oconto Falls does ordain the following article.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CONNECTION
The physical attachment of a new service to a municipal utility system or the replacement of an existing service, lateral, or service drop to a municipal utility system.
MUNICIPAL UTILITY SYSTEM
Those utilities owned, maintained and/or operated by a department of the municipality, its commissions or authorities.
NEW SERVICE
A building, dwelling, or other facility that has not been previously connected to a municipal utility system.
RESTORATION
Reestablishing an existing connection to a municipal utility system.
A. 
Construction permit required. No connection of a new service shall be made to a municipal utility system without the issuance of a construction permit indicating that the municipal utility system has the capacity to serve the new location.
B. 
Affidavits. A new service connection to a municipal water, electric, or cable system shall not be made without a signed affidavit, in the form provided by the municipal utility system, stating the internal plumbing or wiring of the facility to be connected, as the case may be, complies with the State Electrical and/or State Plumbing Code as required by state statute.
C. 
Application for service. Prior to the establishment of a new service, an application for the municipal utility service, on the form required by the municipality, shall be completed, signed, and filed with the municipal utility system business office.
A. 
Excavation permit. If an excavation is required within a public street, alley, sidewalk, or other public way, evidence of the existence of an excavation permit, pursuant to municipal ordinances, shall be required prior to the connection to a municipal utility system.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 233, Excavations.
B. 
Fees. Payment of all fees that may be required by municipal ordinance or resolution, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin rules or tariffs, and Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Codes shall be paid in full prior to connection to a municipal utility system.
C. 
Technical specifications. All connections, and corresponding laterals, services and service drops shall meet the standards of the municipality, its municipal departments, commissions, and authorities, including but not limited to construction specifications, material specifications and clearances when applicable. Both new services and restored services shall comply with this section.
D. 
Additional requirements.
(1) 
Preconstruction conference. New service connections or restored service connections shall not be made without first meeting with the department head for the purpose of providing the applicant, or its agent, with the material, technical, and restoration specifications required by the municipal utility system.
(2) 
Inspection. All municipal utility system connections shall be inspected and approved by a representative of the municipal utility system being connected to. No excavation containing a municipal utility connection, whether within the public rights-of-way or on private lands, shall be filled prior to a documented inspection and approval by a representative of the municipal utility system. Any excavation filled prior to inspection and approval of the municipal utility system connection shall be reexcavated at the expense of the applicant for the service. The municipal utility service desired shall not be provided until a satisfactory connection and corresponding inspection are completed.
A. 
The installation, replacement, repair or relocating of any lawn sprinkler system shall be made in conformance with this section.
B. 
Underground lawn sprinkler systems shall not be connected to the municipal water distribution system unless such lawn sprinkler system is separated from the municipal water distribution system by an approved vacuum breaker or backflow preventor.
C. 
The installer and/or owner of the underground sprinkler system shall provide the municipal water utility with a signed affidavit indicating such installation has been undertaken in accordance with appropriate codes. In addition, the system shall not be permitted to be operated without the inspection of the backflow preventor installation by Water Utility employees. Operation of any lawn sprinkler system prior to the furnishing of a signed affidavit and noted inspection will result in the immediate termination of municipal water service. Such service shall remain terminated until a satisfactory inspection is completed and/or satisfactory affidavit is furnished.
D. 
A minimum of three days prior to undertaking any excavation, the installer shall call Diggers Hotline, its successors or assigns to permit all private and public utilities to be properly located to protect them from damage.
[Added 10-14-2004 by Ord. No. 04-010]
A. 
Upon notification by the City, the owner of any building intended for human habitation or occupancy, and which is located adjacent to a sewer or water main, or in a block through which one or both of these systems extend, shall cause the building to be connected to either or both systems in the manner prescribed by the City.
B. 
If the owner of any building intended for human habitation or occupancy fails to comply with the notice for more than 90 days following receipt of the notice, then the City may cause the required connection or connections to be made, through either municipal employees or private contractors.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
C. 
The cost of any work performed by or through the City under Subsection B of this section shall be assessed as a special tax against the property on which the building is located.
D. 
If, within 30 days after completion of any work performed by or through the City under this section, the owner of the building files an option, in writing, with the City Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer stating that the owner cannot pay the cost in a single payment and requesting that the cost be levied in annual installments not to exceed five in number, the total cost shall be levied in the number of annual installments so requested.
E. 
Installment payments permitted under Subsection D of this section shall bear interest at the rate of 15% per year from the date of completion of the work, with the unpaid balance to be a continuing special tax lien against the property.
A. 
Administration. It shall be the responsibility of the Administrator - Clerk/Treasurer or designee and Utility Manager to administer the provisions of this article pertaining to the utilities under their respective jurisdiction.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
B. 
Failure to comply. The municipality, its departments, commissions, and authorities may refuse to furnish the service of a municipal utility system for failure to comply with this article and the rules and regulations of the municipal utility system. If service is withdrawn by a municipal utility system for failure to comply with the rules and regulations of this article and if therefore, state, county or municipal health regulations are violated, the violator may be prosecuted under other municipal ordinances.
C. 
General penalty.
(1) 
Any person who shall violate any provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be subject to a penalty as follows:
(a) 
First offense: forfeiture of $250 together with costs of prosecution.
(b) 
Second offense: forfeiture of $500 together with costs of prosecution.
(c) 
Third and following offenses: forfeiture of $1,000 together with costs of prosecution.
(2) 
Each violation and each day a violation continues or occurs shall constitute a separate offense. This section shall not preclude the municipality, its departments and commissions from maintaining any appropriate action to prevent or remove a violation of this article and assessing the violator for such costs.