13.04.270 Billing and payment.
A. Responsibility of Property Owners. The rates and charges established either in this chapter or as specified in the current assembly-approved water-sewer rate schedule shall be collected from the owners of the premises receiving service. Passage and publication of the ordinance codified by this chapter shall be deemed notice to all owners of real estate of their liability for water service supplied to any occupant or user of such service on their property.
B. Meter Reading – Billing. Water meters will be read and customers billed on the basis of those readings. Meters shall be read near the twentieth day of each month and customers billed before the end of that month. Residential customers will be billed every month before the end of the month at the rates specified in the current assembly-approved water-sewer rate schedule.
C. Records. The department will keep an accurate account on its books of all readings of meters.
D. Payment of Bills. Each bill rendered shall be due when mailed. If the bill is not paid by the billing due date specified on the bill, the account shall be considered delinquent.
E. Delinquent Accounts.
1. Delinquent Notice. A reminder of account delinquency may be sent, at the discretion of the chief fiscal officer, to each delinquent customer on or after 10 days after the account has become delinquent.
2. Turn-Off or Court Notice. On or after 15 days after an account becomes delinquent, a turn-off notice or a letter of intent to go to small claims court shall state a date on or after which either the water will be turned off or court action will be initiated, if the delinquent account is not paid in full prior thereto. Such date will not be less than five and no more than 15 days from the date of notice. A delivery to the premises served or mailing to the address of record of the customer shall be considered a delivery to the customer.
3. Service Turn-Off. On the turn-off date, the authorized department official or other agent of the borough shall turn off the service. The borough shall not be liable to tenants for damages resulting from water turn-off because of a landlord’s failure to pay delinquent accounts.
4. Service Charge. In all instances where water has been turned off because of a delinquent account, a nonrefundable connection/service charge shall be made as specified in the current assembly-approved water-sewer rate schedule for the termination and restoration of services in addition to replacement of the cash deposit as required in HBC 13.04.060(B).
5. Interest Charges. Accounts will be charged one and one-half percent interest per month after becoming delinquent.
6. Liens. If a lien has been recorded, any delinquent amount owed to the utility shall constitute a lien upon the real estate for which water service is supplied, and the utility is authorized to file sworn statements showing such delinquencies in the office of the recorder of the Haines recording district.
F. Charges for Partial Month. A customer shall be considered to be receiving water service as long as the customer’s control valve is turned on. Turn-on and shut-off procedures are specified in HBC 13.04.280 and 13.04.290, and fees are specified in the current assembly-approved water-sewer rate schedule. If service is for only a portion of the billing month, a nonmetered customer shall be billed as follows: up to 15 days in a calendar month – one-half the monthly charge; 16 days or more in a calendar month – full monthly charge. Metered customers shall be billed the flat rate plus standard charges for water usage registering on their meter.
G. Exemptions and Adjustments to Charges. The manager and the chief fiscal officer shall have the authority to make all necessary adjustments or exemptions to the charges established in this chapter when directed to do so by the assembly or if, in the opinion of the manager or chief fiscal officer, such actions are in the public interest. Any adjustments or exemptions shall be made a part of the borough’s public financial records along with an authorizing statement by the responsible party as to the reasons for the action taken. The decision of the manager or chief fiscal officer shall be final unless overruled by the assembly. (Ord. 13-10-352 § 8; Ord. 07-11-173 § 4)