CITY OF TEKOA
ORDINANCE No. 816
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TEKOA, WASHINGTON, amending Ordinance No. 786 and Tekoa Municipal Code Sections 2.20.120 and 2.20.130, thereby clarifying when water bills are due, when late charges will apply, and when water service will be discontinued in the event of delinquencies.
The City Council of the City of Tekoa do ordain as follows:
Section 1. Tekoa Municipal Code §2.22.120 and those portions of Ordinance No. 786 which are codified as Tekoa Municipal Code §2.22.120 are hereby amended to read as follows:
“2.22.120 - Water Rates.
A. Each municipal water customer shall pay a monthly base rate for water service, together with an additional charge for all water supplied to the customer during the month in excess of 5,000 gallons. The monthly base rate and the additional charge for water in excess of 5,000 gallons per month shall be as fixed from time-to-time by resolution of the City Council. The rates charged for customers receiving water service outside of the corporate limits of the City may be different than the rates charged for customers receiving water service within the corporate limits of the City.
B. Charges for water service to multi-family residential housing (e.g., duplexes, triplexes, apartment buildings, etc.) shall be based upon each living unit, without regard to whether the units are occupied or vacant. However, if a particular living unit is vacant due to remodeling, the owner of the building may request the City Council to defer or suspend water service charges attributable to the unit so long as the work is progressing to completion within a reasonable period.”
Section 2. Tekoa Municipal Code §2.22.130 and those portions of Ordinance No. 786 which are codified as
Tekoa Municipal Code §2.22.130 are hereby amended to read as follows:
“2.22.130 - Meter Reading and Billing Procedures.
A. All sums due for water service shall be the obligation of, and shall be payable by, the owner of the premises supplied with water service. For the purposes of this section, the term “owner” shall mean the taxpayer as shown on the rolls of the Whitman County Assessor, or the owner of record if different.
B. Water meters shall be read monthly, March through October. The City will read all meters located outdoors. Unless arrangements are made with the Public Works Supervisor to read a meter located inside a dwelling or other premises, the owner shall have the responsibility to read the meter each month, March through October, and report the reading to the Clerk/Treasurer not later than the 25th day of the particular month reported. Should the owner fail to report the reading by the 25th of the month, a late charge for the monthly reading shall be assessed as fixed from time-to-time by resolution of the City Council.
C. Charges for water service each month shall be billed as of the last day of the month, and shall be due not later than the 25th day of the following month. For example, water charges for January will be billed as of January 30, and will be due not later than February 25. If a water bill is not paid when due, it shall be considered delinquent and a late charge will be assessed as fixed from time-to-time by resolution of the City Council. The late charge will be included and become part of the delinquent payment for water service. If the delinquent payment is not then paid by the 15th day of the next month, a water shut-off notice will be posted on the property, notifying the owner that water service will be shut off if the delinquent payment is not paid by the 25th day of the month. For example, if a January water bill is not paid by February 25, a late charge will be assessed and added to the bill. If the delinquent payment is not paid by March 15, a shut-off notice will be posted on the property. If the delinquency is not then paid by March 25, water service will be shut off.”
Section 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect on or after November 13, 2014.
PASSED by the City Council and approved by the Mayor of the City of Tekoa on this 3rd day of November, 2014.
APPROVED: John Jaeger, Mayor
ATTEST: Kynda Browning, Clerk
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