§ 12-105. Deposits.

(a)

At the time application is made for water and sewer services, a deposit in an amount established by resolution of the city council shall be made with the city.

(b)

If any customer has an account that requires a minimum deposit of $250.00 or more, the city manager, in his discretion, may accept a bond in lieu of the cash deposit.

(c)

Any and all moneys collected from customers as deposits shall be accounted for in a separate liability account and reconciled on a monthly basis.

(d)

If service has been disconnected to any customer or any premises for failure to pay any amount owing to the city, the utility office manager, in his discretion, may require a deposit in addition to that required in subsection (a) as determined by the utility office manager.

(e)

At each monthly billing, the city shall determine which customers are eligible for a refund of their deposits. A customer is eligible for a refund if:

(1)

He has been a customer of the city for at least 24 consecutive months,

(2)

For the 24 months preceding the determination of eligibility for refund, the customer has not received a delinquent notice for late payment, or the customer's service has not been terminated for failure to pay any amount owing to the city, and

(3)

The customer's deposit is being held by the city; or

(4)

The water service is permanently discontinued at the customer's request.

Each customer who is determined to be eligible for a deposit refund shall receive a credit on his bill for the amount of his deposit held by the city up to the amount of charges for water and sewer service appearing on such bill. If the deposit exceeds the charges for water and sewer service appearing on the bill, then credits shall be given against each subsequent month's bill up to the amount of charges appearing on that bill until the deposit has been fully refunded through credits against each subsequent month's bill up to the amount of charges appearing on that bill until the deposit has been fully refunded through credits against the city bills.

In the event of termination of service at the customer's request, the deposit will be applied to the final bill. Any remaining balance due the customer will be refunded.

(f)

In the event a customer has not paid a deposit pursuant to subsection (a)(1) or has had the deposit refunded under this subsection and should have service discontinued for failure to pay any amount owing the city, then as a condition to restoring service the customer will, in addition to paying all amounts owed to the city, pay a deposit in accordance with subsection (a)(1).

(g)

A certificate of occupancy inspection must be paid for and scheduled prior to establishing water service within the city's limits to any commercial or residential property.

(Ord. No. 841, § 5, 2-7-1994; Ord. No. 98-1021, § 1, 3-16-1998; Ord. No. 03-1435, § 1, 3-3-2003; Code 1983, § 12-105; Ord. No. 05-1616, § 2, 9-19-2005)