CHAPTER 38

 

UTILITIES

 

ARTICLE I ‑ DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED

 

 

38‑1‑1             DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED.  There shall be a department of the City known as the Water and Sewer Department. It shall be assigned to and under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Property. The designated office shall be in the City Hall.

 

 

38‑1‑2             PUBLIC PROPERTY DEPARTMENT.  The Commissioner of the Department of Public Property shall exercise a general supervision over the affairs of the Water and Sewer Department. He shall ascertain the condition and needs thereof; shall, from time to time, report the same to the Mayor and City Council so that a full understanding thereof shall be had; and generally, shall do all acts necessary to promote the efficiency of the Department.

 

 

38‑1‑3             SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER AND SEWER. The Superintendent of Water and Sewer shall be subject to the supervision of the Commissioner of Public Property. The Superintendent shall be appointed by the Mayor, by and with the advice and consent of the City Council and shall hold his office until his successor shall be appointed and qualified. He shall receive such salary as may be provided by resolution of the Council at the time of his appointment.

 

 

38‑1‑4             DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT.  It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to manage and control all aspects of the Water and Sewer Department.

 

 

38‑1‑5              SEPARATE SYSTEMS.  The waterworks and sewerage systems of the City are declared to be separate systems.

            (A)                   Water.  The waterworks system in its entirety, in­cluding mains, hydrants, meters, valves, standpipes, storage tanks, pump tanks, intakes, impounding reservoirs, pumps, machinery, purification plant, and all other elements useful in connection with a water supply or water distribution system shall be maintained and operated as a separate utility system.  (#676; 04‑08‑63)

            (B)                   Sewer. The sewerage system, in its entirety, in­cluding the sewerage treatment plant, collecting, intercepting, and outlet sewers, lateral sewers and drains, and all other appur­tenances, extensions and improvements necessary, useful or con­venient for the collection, treatment and disposal in a sanitary manner of            sewerage and industrial waste shall be maintained and operated as a separate utility system. (#714; 10‑11‑66)

ARTICLE II ‑ RATES AND REGULATIONS

 

 

38‑2‑1              CONTRACT FOR UTILITIES SERVICES.

            (A)                   Customer Accepts Service.            The rates, rules and reg­ulations contained in this Chapter shall constitute and be con­sidered a part of the contract with every person, company or corporation who is supplied with water and sewer services from the waterworks and sewerage systems; and every person, company or corporation, hereinafter called a "customer", who accepts and uses City water and sewer services shall be held to have consented to be bound thereby.

            (B)                   Not Liable for Interrupted Service. The Department shall endeavor at all times to provide a regular and uninterrupted supply of service, but in case the supply of service shall be interrupted or irregular, or defective, or fail from causes beyond its control, or through ordinary negligence of employees, servants or agents, the Department shall not be liable therefor.

            (C)                   Using            Services Without Paying.  Any person using utility services from the City without paying therefor, or who shall be found guilty of breaking the seal of any meter or appur­tenances, or bypass any meter shall be guilty of violating this Code and upon conviction, shall be fined a sum as provided      in Chapter 1, Article I of this Code.

            (D)                   Removal of Meters. All meters shall remain the property of the Department and may be removed from the customer's premises at any time without notice for the purpose of testing and repairing the same or upon discontinuance of service. Upon dis­covery of any unlawful act by any customer, his agent or employ­ee(s) herein prohibited, or upon failure to comply with any other rules and regulations of the Department, such service shall be disconnected.

            (E)                   Destroying Property.  Any person found guilty of de­facing, tampering, injuring or destroying, or in any manner, limiting the use or availability of any meter or any property of the waterworks system and sewerage system, or erecting signs on the property of the Department without permission shall, upon conviction for such act, be fined as provided in Chapter 1, Article I of this Code.

            (F)                   Service Obtained by Fraud. All contracts for water and sewer services must be made in the name of the head of the household, firm or corporation, using the established spelling of that person's or firm's name. Attempts to obtain service by the use of other names, different spellings or by substituting other persons or firms shall be considered subterfuge and service shall be denied.  If service has been discontinued because of nonpayment of bills or any unpaid obligation and service has again been obtained through subterfuge, misrepresentation or fraud, that


service shall be promptly disconnected and the whole or such part of the advanced payment, as may be necessary to satisfy the unpaid obligation, shall be retained by the City and credited to the appropriate account.

            (G)                   Failure to Receive Bill.  Failure to receive a bill shall not excuse a customer from his obligation            to pay within the time specified. Should the Department be unable to bill a cus­tomer for services used during any month, the following bill shall include the charges for services used during the            unbilled month.

            (H)                   Request to Discontinue Services. Services shall have been deemed to have been supplied to any property connected to the water and sewer systems during a month unless the customer notifies the City prior to the first (1st) day of the new billing month in which the services are to be discontinued.

(I)                    Billing; Utility Shut‑off; Hearing.

(1) All bills for utility services shall be due and payable upon presentation. If a bill is not paid by the fifteenth (15th) day of the month or within fifteen (15) days of the date the bill is presented, whichever is later, a penalty equal to ten percent (10%) of the amount due on the bill shall be added thereto. This penalty shall be in addition to the charge heretofore established for the utility services. (#1070; 04‑26‑88)

(2) Any customer who fails to pay the utility bills within thirty (30) days of presentation shall have the utility services disconnected after a written notice by the City Clerk has been mailed by first‑class mail to the customer, affording the customer an opportunity for a hearing. The notice shall specifically advise the customer of the following:

(a) Name and address of the consumer and the amount of the bill;

(b) The date, time and location of the hearing to be held;

(c) That the consumer has a right to be heard and to present evidence in his behalf if he does not agree with the bill;

(d) That if the consumer fails to appear at the hearing, the consumer's utility service shall be terminated without further proceedings.

(3) The time, date and location of the hearing shall be determined by the Commissioner of Public Property, the City Clerk or the designee of the Commissioner. The Commissioner of Public Property, the City Clerk or designee
shall preside over the hearing. The Commissioner of Public Property, City Clerk or designee of the Commissioner shall make a final determination as to the rights of the consumer and the City based on the information received at the hearing.

(4) The consumer shall be notified within two (2) working days of the decision rendered by the hearing officer. If the service is to be discontinued, a date and time shall be set out in the notice to terminate the service or services of the consumer. Notice of the hearing officer's decision shall be made by first-class mail.

(5) If the hearing officer decides in favor of the City, the City shall have the right to discontinue the consumer's utility services. Should the consumer fail to appear at the hearing or should the notice be returned unaccepted, then the City shall also have the right to terminate the consumer's utility services without further proceedings.

(6) If the consumer who has been notified for nonpayment of utility bills is not the owner of record, then the City shall notify the owner of the property by first‑class mail.

(7) Once utility services have been disconnected, the same shall not be again connected or used until all delinquent accounts and bills of service are paid in full, including a fee of Twenty Dollars ($20.00) for each disconnection and reconnection of such utility services, plus expenses incurred in the reconnection of the utility services. (#1070; 04‑26‑88)

(8) For a second or subsequent disconnection for utility services in any one calendar year, the fee shall be Twenty‑Five Dollars ($25.00), plus expenses incurred in the reconnecting of the utility services.

(J)                    Lien Notice.  Whenever a bill for utility services remains unpaid for sixty (60) days after it has been rendered, the City Clerk shall file with the County Recorder of Deeds a state­ment of lien claim. This statement shall contain the legal description of the premises served, the amount of the unpaid bill, and a notice that the Municipality claims a lien for this amount as well as for all charges for utility services served subsequent to the period covered by the bill.

If the consumer of utility services whose bill is unpaid is not the owner of the premises and the City Clerk has notice of this, then the notice shall be mailed to the owner of the premises

if his address is known to the City Clerk whenever such bill remains unpaid for a period of sixty (60) days after it has been rendered.

The failure of the City Clerk to record such lien or to mail such notice, or the failure of the owner to receive such notice shall not affect the right to foreclose the lien for unpaid utility bills as mentioned herein.

            (K)                   Foreclosure of Lien.            Property subject to a lien for unpaid            utility charges shall be sold for nonpayment of the same, and the proceeds of such sale shall be applied to pay the charges, after deducting costs, as is the case in the foreclosure of statu­tory liens. Such foreclosure shall be by bill‑in‑equity in the name of the City.

The City Attorney is hereby authorized to institute such proceedings in the name of the City in any court having jurisdiction over such matters against any property for which the bill for utility services has remained unpaid sixty (60) days after it has been rendered.

 

 

            38‑2‑2              CONSUMER LISTS.  It is hereby made the duty of the City Clerk to prepare or cause to be prepared a complete and accurate list of all premises and properties receiving utility services, showing the name and address of the occupant and the owner of the same. The list shall be kept up‑to‑date, and shall be corrected from time to time to allow changes in the            occupancy or ownership of any such property or premises. It shall be pre­sented at the regular monthly meeting if requested.

 

 

38‑2‑3             LIABILITY FOR CHARGES.  The owner of any lot, parcel of land or premises receiving utility services, the occupant of such premises and the user of the services shall be jointly and severally liable for the payment of the services to such lot, parcel of land or premises, and all services are rendered to the premises by the City only on the condition that such owner, occupant and user shall be jointly and severally liable therefor to the City. (See 1975 Code, Sec. 7.12g) (#1017; 01‑10‑84)

 

 

38‑2‑4             ESTIMATED CHARGE. Whenever any meter, by reason of its being out of repair or from any cause fails to properly register the utilities passing through the same, the consumer shall be charged the average charge of the previous three (3) months usage.  If no record of the previous three (3) months exists, then it shall be the duty of the City Clerk to estimate the amount of utilities consumed during the time the meter fails to operate and the consumer shall be charged with such estimated amount. Bills may be estimated whenever it is impossible to read the meters during inclement weather.

            38-2-5              NO FREE UTILITY SERVICE.  No free utility service shall be furnished to any person, public or private, and all rates and charges shall be non-discriminatory, provided that the City Council reserves the right to impose special rates and charges in cases where particular circumstances render the regular rates inadequate or unjust.

 

 

            38-2-6              UTILITY DEPOSITS.

            (A)                   Residential.  When any application is made for utility services in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, all applicants for which the service is requested shall deposit with the application the amount of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) prior to water service being turned on.  (Ord. No. 1276; 08-12-99)

            When the amount of the deposit provided for above is not sufficient to adequately protect the Department, a greater amount than stated above may be required, based on the consumer's estimated bill for a customary billing period.

            (B)                   Security for Payment - No Interest.  The deposits made under the provisions of this Chapter shall be held by the City as security for the payment of utility services used by the applicant upon the premises to which his application pertains, and may be so applied when any default is made in the payment in the utilities bill in accordance with this Chapter.  The depositor shall earn three percent (3%) interest per annum, payable upon refund.  If the applicant is the owner of the property, his deposit may be returned after one (1) year if all previous bills have been paid.

            (C)                   Liability for Deposit.  The owner of the premises and the tenant thereof shall be jointly and severally liable to pay the required deposit herein established before water and sewer facilities shall be made available to the tenant-occupied premises.  In the case a portion of the deposit is used as aforesaid, the tenant and/or owner of the premises shall immediately deposit with the City Clerk an amount sufficient to bring the deposit to the established rate of deposit.  (Ord. No. 1015; 09-27-83)

ARTICLE III ‑ WATER SYSTEM

 

DIVISION I ‑ GENERAL REGULATIONS

 

 

38‑3‑1             APPLICATION FOR TAPS AND SERVICE CONNECTIONS TO THE WATERWORKS SYSTEM.  An applicant desiring a water tap or service connection with the Waterworks System of the City shall file a written application at the City Hall, signed by the owner of the property for which the tap or service connection is desired, or by the duly authorized agent of such owner. The application shall be accompanied by payment of the fee hereinafter prescribed to cover the cost of such service connection. In the event the application is made by an agent for the owner, then the application shall also be accompanied by the written authority of the owner to the agent for the making of the application. (See Article IV for fees.) (#638; 11‑23‑59) (1975 Code; Sec. 7.07)

 

 

38‑3‑2             ALL SERVICE TO BE BY METER.  All water service, whether for domestic, commercial or industrial use shall be metered. All meters shall be so placed and installed as to render the same accessible at all times for the purpose of reading or repairing and so as to be free from danger of freezing. Meters outside of a building shall be set in a suitable meter box approved by the Water and Sewer Superintendent. Water shall not be turned on for new connections until the meter has been installed and all other requirements of this Chapter on the part of the property owner have been fully complied with.

Upon the installation of the meter and appurtenances, the consumer shall be responsible for the care and protection of the same and shall be charged all costs for repair and replacement of the same resulting from his failure to properly protect or care for such meter and equipment. (#980; 01‑26‑82)

 

 

38‑3‑3             SPECIFICATIONS.  For water services, the City shall specify the requirements for materials, construction and installation in all matters and at all locations, including the size, kind, type and condition of the water piping to which connection shall be made and it is the duty of the Superintendent to determine that specifications are followed before accepting or connecting to any new work.

 

 

38‑3‑4             WATER CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS.  The City reserves the right, through its Superintendent, to select and specify the kind, make, type and size of any and all materials and appliances used in services and meter installations, except that in no case shall a pipe of less than three‑fourths (3/4) of an inch inside
diameter, Type "K" Copper be installed for service. A service shall be considered as only that pipe which extends from the cutoff valve or meter to the water main in a street or thoroughfare directly to an abutting property. The applicant or owner shall be responsible for all repairs, alterations and maintenance on the water line from the main to the property served.

 

 

38‑3‑5             METER DAMAGED.  Whenever a meter is found to have been damaged by hot water being forced back into it from the consumer's hot water or heating apparatus, or for any other cause within control of the consumer, the consumer shall pay the City for the actual cost of the removal, repair and replacement of the damaged meter and all previous water bills shall be corrected on an estimated basis to cover such period as it appears that the meter was out of order for such damage.

 

 

38‑3‑6             CITY NOT LIABLE FOR INTERRUPTION OF SUPPLY.  The City reserves the right to shut off water at any time in the mains for the purpose of repairing, cleaning, making connections with or extensions to same, or for the concentration of water in any part of the City in case of fire, and for restricting the use of water in case of deficiency in supply. No claim shall be made against the City by reason of the breaking of any service pipe or service cock, or damage arising from shutting off of water for repairing, laying or relaying mains, hydrants, or other connections or repairing any part of the Waterworks System, or from failure of the water supply or by increasing the water pressure at any time, or from concentration or restricted use of water as shown above.

 

 

38‑3‑7             RESALE.  No water shall be resold or distributed by the recipient or consumer thereof from the City supply to any premises other than that for which application has been made and the meter installed, except in cases of emergency.

 

 

38‑3‑8             DISCONTINUING SERVICE ‑ DANGEROUS USAGE.  The City shall have the right to refuse water service or to discontinue water service, without notice, at any time to any consumer if the City finds any apparatus or appliances, the operation of which shall be detrimental to the water system of the City or to any or all of its consumers. Standpipes, hydrants, gate valves and any other apparatus that cause water hammer or any danger to the water system or other customer's plumbing shall be immediately repaired or removed upon notice from the City or, at its option, the City may immediately discontinue service without notice and without any liability for direct or resulting damages therefrom.

38‑3‑9             ELECTRIC GROUND WIRES.  All persons are strictly forbidden to attach any electrical ground wire to any plumbing or water piping which is or may be connected to any water service pipe, water meter, or water main belonging to the City.

The City shall hold the owner of the premises responsible and liable for any damage to the property or injury to the employees of the City caused by such ground wire. Any and all owners and consumers shall remove any existing ground wires immediately upon written notice from the City. If not so disconnected five (5) days after notice, the City, through its officials, may enter the property and remove such ground wires and the consumer shall pay all costs.

 

 

38‑3‑10             WATER FOR BUILDING OR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES. Applicants desiring to use water from the City Waterworks System for building or construction purposes shall make application therefor to the Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department on a form provided by the Department for that purpose.

Upon a permit being granted, the service pipe shall be carried at the expense of the applicant to the inside of the curb line where a service cock and meter shall be placed with pipe leading to the surface and a faucet placed at the end thereof above the surface. When the building or construction is completed, the faucet and meter shall be removed and the water shut off unless permanent connection is made in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. Charges for the use and connection of the meter shall be prescribed by the Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department. (See 1975 Code; Sec. 7.07c)

 

 

38‑3‑11          FIRE HYDRANTS.

(A)                   All public fire hydrants with gate valves, tees, and connections from the main, inside the City Limits, shall be owned, maintained and used only by the City and shall be solely respon­sible for the same. Use of water from fire hydrants by contrac­tors and others shall be only upon permission by the City and after approved application to the City.

            (B)                   The City shall not be held liable and will not as­sume any responsibility for the condition of any fire hydrant inside or outside of the City limits or the pressure or amount of water obtainable therefrom or any damage either direct or resul­tant because of the condition, pressure or amount of water avail­able at any fire hydrant.

            (C)                   All public fire hydrants located outside the City Limits owned by the City shall be maintained in as good order as reasonably possible, but the City shall not undertake or assume any responsibility or liability for their condition or use or abuse.  Such public fire hydrants shall be used only for the purpose of extinguishing fires except when the City may issue a special permit for their use to contractors who shall then be responsible for the hydrants and the use of water from them.

38‑3‑12          LAWN WATERING.  The right is reserved to suspend the use of lawn fountains and hoses for sprinkling lawns and gardens whenever, in the opinion of the City, public exigencies require it.

 

 

38‑3‑13             SHORTAGE AND PURITY OF SUPPLY.  The City shall not be held responsible for or in any manner liable to any person, company, consumer or public body for any claim or damage, either direct or resultant because of any shortage of water supply, any shutoff of water for any reason, any bursting or leakage of either the consumer's or City's mains, pipes and fixtures, any pollution or impurity in water supply or any fire or water damage.

 

 

38‑3‑14          LIMIT AMOUNT OF USE.  If, at any time, there is a deficiency in the supply of water, the City may declare that an emergency exists and place a restriction on the amount of water a customer may use and purposes for which it may be used during the time of such emergency.

 

 

38‑3‑15             DEDUCTIONS AND REBATES. No deductions or rebates shall be made to any water customer because of a water leak in his water line, tank, or other appurtenance. The amount of water registered by an operating meter shall be charged to the customer and paid in full as provided in Article II of this Chapter. (#980)

 

 

38‑3‑16             NONCOMPLIANCE WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS.  If any consumer fails to comply with any of the rules and regulations in force, the City shall notify the consumer of such failure. If the consumer does not remedy the same as the rules provide and within a reasonable time, the City shall have the right to discontinue service. Except in case of nonpayment, emergency, necessity or as otherwise provided, the City shall not discontinue service for violation of any rule until five (5) days after notice has been given and the violation has not been remedied.

 

 

38‑3‑17             MAINTENANCE OF WATER LINES.  The City shall replace all water mains when it has been deemed necessary to do so in order to maintain service. The City shall limit its responsibility to maintaining water lines to the water mains and not to the service lines. The property owner shall be responsible for the service line from the corporate stop on the water main to the water meter as well as the line from the meter into the premises served.
(#884)

38‑3‑18             RULES TO BECOME PART OF CONTRACT.  All of the rules and regulations concerning the use of the facilities of the water system and the consumption of water shall be adopted and the same shall become a part of the contract with every water consumer and every water consumer shall be considered to take water from the City, subject thereto and bound thereby.

 

 

38‑3‑19             INSPECTION.­

            (A)                   Access to Premises. The City shall have access to all portions of the premises of the consumer at any reasonable time for inspection of the use of water and the consumer's pipe, fixtures, plumbing and any other apparatus in any manner connected to the water system of the City. The City shall have the right and option to demand change or stopping of use or to require any repair, change, removal or improvement of any pipe, fixture, plumbing or other apparatus that would in any manner affect the water supply or system of the City or the supply or fixtures of other consumers. (#638; 11‑23‑59)

(B)                   Meters to be Open to Inspection. All water meters and water fixtures, connections and appurtenances on private prop­erty connected with the Waterworks System of the City shall be open     to the inspection of the proper officials and employees of the City at all reasonable hours.

 

 

38‑3‑20  ‑  38‑3‑21            RESERVED.

 

 

DIVISION II ‑ CROSS CONNECTIONS

 

 

38‑3‑22             APPROVED BACKFLOW DEVICE.  All plumbing installed within the City shall be installed in accordance with the Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890. If, in accordance with the Illinois Plumbing Code or in the judgment of the Superintendent, an approved backflow prevention device is necessary for the safety of the public water supply system, the Superintendent shall give notice to the water customer to install such an approved device immediately. The water customer shall, at his own expense, install such an approved device at a location and in a manner in accordance with the Illinois Plumbing Code, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and all applicable local regulations, and shall have inspections and tests made of such approved devices upon installation and as required by the Illinois Plumbing Code, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and local regulations.

38‑3‑23             CROSS CONNECTIONS PROHIBITED; EXCEPTION.  No person shall establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained any connection whereby a private, auxiliary or emergency water supply other than the regular public water supply enters the supply or distribution system of the City unless such private, auxiliary or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of such supply shall have been approved by the Superintendent and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

 

 

38‑3‑24             INVESTIGATIONS BY SUPERINTENDENT.  It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to cause surveys and investigations to be made of commercial, industrial and other properties served by the public water supply to determine whether actual or potential hazards to the public water supply may exist. Such surveys and investigations shall be made a matter of public record and shall be repeated at least every two (2) years or as often as the Superintendent shall deem necessary. Records of such surveys shall be maintained and available for review for a period of at least five (5) years.

 

 

38‑3‑25             RIGHT TO ENTER PREMISES.  The approved Cross Connec­tion Control Device Inspector shall have the right to enter, at any reasonable time, any property served by a connection to the public water supply or distribution system for the purpose of verifying the presence or absence of cross connections and that the Superintendent or his authorized agent shall have the right to enter, at any reasonable time, any property served by a connection to the public water supply or distribution system for the purpose of verifying information submitted by the customer regarding the required cross connection control inspection. On demand, the owner, lessee or occupants of any property so served shall furnish to the Superintendent any information which he may request regard­ing the piping system or systems or water use on such property. The refusal of such information when demanded shall, within the discretion of the Superintendent, be evidence of the presence of improper connections as provided in this Chapter.

 

 

38‑3‑26            NOTICE TO CUSTOMER; RECONNECT FEE.

            (A)                   The Superintendent is hereby authorized and directed to discontinue, after reasonable notice to the occupant thereof, the water service to any property wherein any connection in violation of the provisions of this Chapter is known to exist, and to take such other precautionary measures as he may deem necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water supply distribution mains. Water service to such property shall not be restored until such conditions have been eliminated or corrected
in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter and until a reconnection fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) is paid to the City Clerk.

            (B)                   Immediate disconnection with verbal notice can be effected when the Superintendent is assured that imminent danger of harmful contamination of the public water supply system exists.  Such action shall be followed by written notification of the cause of disconnection. Immediate disconnection without notice to any party can be effected to prevent actual or anticipated contamina­tion or pollution of the public water supply, provided that, in the reasonable opinion of the Superintendent or the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, such action is required to pre­vent actual or potential contamination or pollution of the public water supply.

            (C)                   The public water supply, the Superintendent or the agents or assigns shall not be liable to any customer for any injury, damages or lost revenues which may result from termination of the customer's water supply in accordance with the terms of this Chapter, whether or not said termination was with or without notice.

 

 

38‑3‑27             CONTAMINATIONS COST AND THE CONSUMER.  The consumer responsible for the back-siphoned material or contamination through backflow, if contamination of the potable water supply system occurs through an illegal cross connection or an improperly installed, maintained or repaired device, or a device which has been bypassed, shall bear the cost of clean‑up of the potable water supply system.

ARTICLE IV ‑ UTILITY RATES

 

DIVISION I ‑ GENERAL

 

 

38‑4‑1             BUILDING UNIT DEFINED.  All persons or families residing in a building under one roof, be it an apartment or homes converted into more than one dwelling place, each family or individual resident residing therein shall be deemed an individual customer and such homes or apartments or dwellings shall be billed for at least one minimum water and/or sewer account according to the number of families or individual residents residing therein.

 

 

38‑4‑2             REVENUES.  All revenues and monies derived from the operation of the Water and Sewer Department shall be deposited in the respective Water and Sewer Funds. All such revenues and monies shall be held by the City Clerk separate and apart from his private funds and separate and apart from all other funds of the City, and all of said sum, without any deductions whatever, shall be delivered to the City Treasurer not more than ten (10) days after receipt of the same or at such more frequent intervals as may, from time to time, be directed by the City Council.

The Treasurer shall receive all such revenues from the Water and Sewer Department and all other funds and monies incident to the operation of such Department as the same may be delivered to him and deposit the same in the proper accounts of the Water and Sewer Funds. The City Council shall administer such fund in every respect in the manner provided by the Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 24.

 

 

38‑4‑3             ACCOUNTS.  The City Clerk shall establish a proper system of accounts and shall keep proper books, records and accounts in which complete and correct entries shall be made of all transactions relative to the Water and Sewer Department and at regular annual intervals, the Clerk shall cause to be made an audit by an independent auditing concern of the books to show the receipts and disbursements of the Water and Sewer Department.

In addition to the customary operating statements, the annual audit report shall also reflect the revenues and operating expenses of the wastewater facilities, including a replacement cost, to indicate that sewer service charges under the waste cost recovery system and capital amounts required to be recovered under the industrial cost recovery system do, in fact, meet these regulations. In this regard, the financial information to be shown in the audit report shall include the following:

(A)                   Flow data showing total gallons received at the wastewater plant for the current fiscal year.

(B)                   Billing data to show total number of gallons billed.

            (C)                   Debt service for the next succeeding fiscal year.

            (D)                   Number of users connected to the system.

            (E)                   Number of non-metered users.

            (F)                   A list of users discharging non-domestic wastes (industrial users) and volume of waste discharged.

 

 

            38-4-4              NOTICE OF RATES.  A copy of this Article, properly certified by the City Clerk, shall be filed in the office of the County Recorder of Deeds and shall be deemed notice to all owners of real estate of the charges of the water and sewer systems of the City on their properties.  Each user shall be notified at least annually, in conjunction with a regular bill, of the rate and that portion of the user charges which are attributable to wastewater treatment services.

 

 

            38-4-5              ACCESS TO RECORDS.  The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, United States Environmental Protection Agency, or its authorized representative shall have access to any books, documents, papers and records of the City which are applicable to the City's system of user charges or industrial cost recovery for the purpose of making audit, examination, excerpts and transcriptions thereof to insure compliance with the terms of the Special and General Conditions to any State Grant.

 

 

            38-4-6  -  38-4-9            RESERVED.

 

 

DIVISION II - WATER RATES

 

 

            38-4-10            WATER TAP-ON FEES.

            (A)                   Inside City.  Applicants for water service inside the City shall pay a charge of Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($350.00) to connect to the water mains of the City for properties not now connected or tapped-on to the water mains, whether presently constructed or to be constructed.  The foregoing charge shall be a privilege fee only and the only material to be furnished by the City shall be the water meter.  All other appurtenances, such as connecting pipes, meter vaults and covers, valves, and connections shall be furnished by the applicant.  All such connections shall be made under the supervision of the City and in such a manner as the City may direct through its duly authorized employees.  All costs for excavation and labor for the tap-on shall be paid by the applicant.

            (B)                   Outside City.  Applicants for water service outside the City shall be subject to the same requirements as applicants inside the City and shall pay a fee of Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($350.00) to tap-on to the water main.

            (C)                   Pinnacle Point Subdivision Waiver.  The waterline tap-on fee shall be waived for any property owner who granted an easement for waterline purposes for the waterline installed adjacent to the North Road for the Pinnacle Point Subdivision.  (Ord. No. 1207; 03-28-95)

 

 

            38-4-11            WATER RATES.

            (A)                   Municipal Bulk Water Rate.  There is hereby established the monthly base rate or charge for the use of water furnished by the City of Hillsboro, as adjusted by Paragraph "F", to neighboring municipalities based upon the readings as shown by the master water meters, as follows:

(1) Rate:  $1.60 per 1,000 gallons.

(2) All bills for service shall be rendered as of the first (1st) day of the month succeeding the month for which the service is billed, and shall be payable not later than the close of business on the fifteenth (15th) day of the same month except that when the fifteenth (15th) day of the month shall be a Sunday or a legal holiday, then such bills for service shall be payable on the next succeeding day.

(3) If the rates or charges for such services are not paid within thirty (30) days after rendition of the bill for such services, the bill shall be considered delinquent and such services may be discontinued without further notice.

(4) It is the duty of the City Clerk to render bills for service and for all rates and charges in connection therewith and to collect all monies due thereon.

(5) The Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to enter into a contract on behalf of the City with any municipality desiring to purchase water from the City for a term of not to exceed thirty (30) years; said contract to define the conditions on which water is to be furnished.  (Ord. No. 568; 03-27-50)

            (B)                   Residential Within City Limits.  There is hereby established base rates or charges for the use of and for the service supplied to residential users, as adjusted by Paragraph "F", within the City Limits by the water system, based upon the amount of water consumed per month as shown by the water meter, as follows:

GALLONS USED PER MONTH RATE

First 10,000 gallons                                     $2.33 per 1,000 gallons

                                    Next 10,000 gallons                                     $1.63 per 1,000 gallons

                                    Next 10,000 gallons                                     $1.55 per 1,000 gallons

                                    Over 30,000 gallons                                     $1.47 per 1,000 gallons

                                    MINIMUM MONTHLY BILL               $6.99

(See Paragraph "F" for increases)

(C)                   Residential Outside City Limits.  There is hereby rates or charges for the use of and for the service residential users outside the City Limits by the water upon the amount of water consumed per month as shown as follows:

GALLONS USED PER MONTH RATE

                                    First 10,000 gallons                                     $3.50 per 1,000 gallons

                                    Next 10,000 gallons                                     $2.33 per 1,000 gallons

                                    Next 10,000 gallons                                     $2.10 per 1,000 gallons

                                    Over 30,000 gallons                                     $1.55 per 1,000 gallons

                                    MINIMUM MONTHLY BILL               $10.50

(See Paragraph "F" for increases)

            (D)                   Industrial Within City Limits. There is hereby es­tablished rates or charges for the use of and for the service supplied to industrial users within the City Limits by the water system, based upon the amount of water consumed per month as shown by the meter, as  follows:

GALLONS USED PER MONTH RATE

First 10,000 gallons $2.33 per 1,000 gallons

Next 10,000 gallons $1.63 per 1,000 gallons

Over 20,000 gallons $1.48 per 1,000 gallons

                                    MINIMUM MONTHLY BILL               $9.31

(See Paragraph "F" for increases)

(E)                   Industrial Outside City Limits.  There is hereby established rates or charges for the use of and for the service supplied to industrial users outside the City Limits by the water system, based upon the amount of water consumed per month as shown by the meter, as follows:

GALLONS USED PER MONTH RATE

                                    First 10,000 gallons                                     $3.50 per 1,000 gallons

                                    Next 10,000 gallons                                     $2.40 per 1,000 gallons

                                    Next 10,000 gallons                                     $2.10 per 1,000 gallons

                                    Over 30,000 gallons                                     $1.55 per 1,000 gallons

                        MINIMUM MONTHLY BILL               $13.97

(See Paragraph "F" for increases)

(E)                   Bulk Sales ‑ Water Plant.  All water sold at the water plant as bulk sales shall be at the rate as follows:

(1) $3.00 per 1,000 gallons

(See Paragraph "F" for increases)

            (F)                   Water Rate Increases. The rate for water consumed by all persons, corporations, and municipalities shall be as fol­lows:

 

EFFECTIVE DATE  RATE INCREASE             DATE ADOPTED

 

May 1, 2003 5 Percent   Ord. 1357; 11‑12‑02

May 1, 2007 3 Percent         

May 1, 2010 2 Percent         

May 1, 2014 2 Percent         

May 1, 2017 2 Percent         

May 1, 2019 2 Percent         

 

            (G)                   All water drawn directly from a municipal water source by any resident of the City shall be free of charge; All water drawn directly from a municipal water source by any non-resident shall be at the following rate:

(1) Sixty Dollars ($60.00) per year (See paragraph (F) for increases) (Ord. No. 1287; 11-09-99)

 

 

DIVISION III ‑ SEWER RATES

 

 

38‑4‑20