§ 74-166. Schedule of fees for connection to water-sewer system.

There are hereby established certain fees or charges for connection to the water and/or sewer mains in the combined waterworks and sewerage system of the city, as follows:

(1)

Extension recapture fees. To apportion the cost of the installation of the water and/or sewer main which serves any property, an extension fee shall be due and payable prior to connection to a water and/or sewer line. It is intended that each user shall pay that portion of the cost of installation applicable to that particular use. No extension fee shall be charged against any property for any water and/or sewer main for which any owner of that property has previously and directly borne the pro rata share of such cost.

a.

Single-family dwellings. The charge shall be based on the lot width, as defined in the zoning ordinance, of the property served multiplied by a rate per foot. The rate per foot shall be 50 percent of the cost of a six-inch water main or an eight-inch sewer main at the time of installation. If the improvement cost is not paid within 90 days of construction acceptance, then an interest rate of six percent per annum shall be charged to date of payment.

b.

Multiple-family dwellings, commercial, church, school and industrial properties. The charge shall be based on the lot width, as defined in the zoning ordinance, of the property served multiplied by a rate per foot. The rate per foot shall be 50 percent of the cost of an eight-inch water main or an eight-inch sewer main at the time of the installation. If the improvement cost is not paid within 90 days of construction acceptance, then an interest rate of six percent per annum shall be charged to date of payment.

If the city engineer determines that a main larger than eight inches is required, the city reserves the right to enter into a separate contract with the user. In no case, however, shall the charge be based on the cost of a main greater than the main to which the service is connected.

(2)

Connection privilege fees.

a.

To ensure that each user shall bear a share of the cost of the basic city water system, a connection privilege fee shall be charged each user at the time connection to an existing water service is made, in accordance with appendix B to this Code.

b.

The estimates of water usage made by the city engineer shall be based upon average 24-hour rates of water consumption of comparable building uses. Fees based on such estimates may be adjusted on the basis of the first year's experience upon application of the user or the city. No adjustment shall result in a fee less than the minimum fee as referred to in this subsection (2).

(3)

Tap fees.

a.

Water main taps.

1.

One-inch through two-inch water main taps made by the city shall include labor, equipment rental and materials, and shall be in accordance with appendix B to this Code.

2.

All four-inch through eight-inch water main taps shall be made by the city. Fees for these taps shall include labor and equipment rental for a maximum of three hours. Such fees shall exclude tapping valve, valve box, sleeve, excavation, backfill and restoration, and shall be in accordance with appendix B to this Code.

3.

Water taps over eight inches shall be made by the private contractor under permit and direction of the city. The permit fee for such tap shall be in accordance with appendix B to this Code.

b.

Sewer main taps.

1.

Sewer taps made by the city include labor, equipment rental and materials but exclude excavation and backfill. The fee shall be in accordance with appendix B to this Code.

2.

Sewer taps over six inches shall be made by the builder under permit and direction of the city. The permit fee for such a tap shall be in accordance with appendix B to this Code.

(4)

Inspection fee.

a.

An inspection of water service from the curbstop to the house shall be required at the time of construction. The inspection fee shall be in accordance with appendix B to this Code.

b.

An inspection of sewer service to the house shall be required at the time of construction. The inspection fee shall be in accordance with appendix B to this Code.

(5)

Fire hydrant meter usage fees. The water division shall require a deposit for the use of fire hydrant meters in accordance with appendix B to this Code.

a.

Fire hydrant meter use shall be approved by the water superintendent and shall be for use only within the city limits.

b.

Hydrant meter deposits will be refunded upon return of the hydrant meter. All damages shall be billed to the person responsible for the meter.

(6)

Additional costs incurred. Nothing contained in this section shall preclude or bar the city from recovering unforeseen or excessive and uncontemplated construction costs incurred by the city in performing any of the services set forth in this section; the city is obliged to give prompt notice to the user of such unforeseen or uncontemplated costs as soon as they become evident and afford such user the opportunity to cancel any further work.

(7)

Emergency call-outs. If it is determined by the water superintendent that an emergency call-out requested by a contractor or owner/occupant does not represent an emergency situation, the contractor or owner/occupant shall be billed for whatever costs are incurred by the water department in responding to the emergency call-out.

(Code 1968, § 26-21; Code 1996, § 74-166; Ord. No. F-0535, § 1, 11-20-2000; Ord. No. F-0569, § 1, 3-19-2001; Ord. No. F-1292, § 1, 8-20-2007; Ord. No. F-1395, §§ 8, 9, 12-1-2008; Ord. No. F-1432, § 2, 6-15-2009)