SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM, TAP RATE, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Part 85

85.000 SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM, TAP RATE, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Ord. No. 79

Adopted: May 14, 1996

An ordinance to repeal Part 85 of the City of Reading Compilation of Ordinances and to provide a new ordinance to regulate the operation and maintenance of the City of Reading sanitary sewage disposal system as a public utility system.

THE CITY OF READING ORDAINS:

85.001 Sewer use charge system.

The city sewer use charge system shall produce revenues to offset the cost of all treatment works operation, maintenance and replacement. All sewer rates shall be developed in accordance with governing state and federal regulations. Rates shall be set by resolution of the city council.

85.002 Definitions.

Whenever the words "the system" are referred to in this ordinance, they shall be understood to mean the complete City of Reading sanitary sewer system, including all sewers, pumps, lift stations, treatment facilities and all other facilities used or useful in the collection, treatment and disposal of domestic, commercial or industrial wastes, including all appurtenances thereto and including all extensions and improvements thereto which may hereafter be acquired.

Whenever the words "revenues" and "net revenues" are used in this ordinance, they shall be understood to have the meanings as defined in Section 3, Act 94, Public Acts of Michigan, 1933, as amended.

85.003 Rates and charges.

Rates to be charge for service furnished by the system shall be as follows:

Sewer Use Charges

Monthly sewer use charges to each premises served by the system shall be based upon water use by such premises in accordance with the following schedule:

First 20,000 gallons . . . . $ 10.00

between 20,000--50,000 gallons . . . . 50.00

between 50,000--100,000 [gallons] . . . . 100.00

between 100,000--250,000 [gallons] . . . . 200.00

between 300,000 [gallons] & over . . . . 300.00

Tap Charge

Each premises tapping into the system and securing therefrom sewer service shall pay, in cash, at the time of application for the tap the sum of $1,000.00 or the sum of the costs for time and materials necessary to install the tap, whichever is greater. Any change in the tap charge may hereafter be established by resolution of the City Council. Such amounts shall be sufficient to compensate the City for the cost of making and inspecting the tap.

Special Rates

Special rates shall be established by resolution of the City Council for miscellaneous or special services.

Billing

Bills will be rendered monthly at the same time as the water bill and penalty and payment provisions shall be the same as are established for water billing.

Enforcement

The charges for services which are under the provisions of Section 21, Act 94, Public Acts of Michigan, 1933, as amended, made a lien on all premises served thereby unless notice is given that a tenant is responsible, are hereby recognized to constitute such a lien; and whenever any such charge against any piece of property shall be delinquent for six (6) months, the City official or officials in charge of the collection thereof shall certify annually, on March 1 of each year, to the tax assessing officer of the City the fact of such delinquency, whereupon such charge shall be, by him, entered upon the next tax roll as a charge against such premises and shall be collected and the lien thereof enforced, in the same manner as general City taxes against such premieres are collected and the lien thereof enforced; provided, however, where notice is given that a tenant is responsible for such charges and service as provided by said Section 21, no further service shall be rendered such premises until a cash deposit in the amount of Fifty-four ($54.00) Dollars shall have been made as security for payment of such charge and service.

In addition to the foregoing, the City shall have the right to discontinue either the water service or the sewer service, or both, to any premises for which charges for sewer service are delinquent, and such service shall not be reestablished until all delinquent charges and penalties, together with a reconnection fee, have been paid. Further, such charges and penalties may be recovered by court action.

85.004 No free service.

No free service shall be furnished by said system to any person, firm or corporation, public or private, or to any public agency or instrumentality.

85.005 Time limit for connection.

All premises to which services of the system shall be available shall connect to such system within sixty (60) days after the mailing to such premises by appropriate City officials of notification of such availability.

85.006 Commencement of service.

No sewer service shall commence to any premises connected to the Reading City sewer system until all fees, top rates or charges due or required under this ordinance are paid in full.

85.007 Validity.

If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this ordinance shall be held invalid, the invalidity of such section, paragraph, clause or provision shall not affect any of the other provisions of this ordinance.

85.008 Repeal.

All ordinances, resolutions or orders, or parts thereof, in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are to the extent of such conflict, hereby repealed.