§ 16.14.060. Delinquent payments—Collection—Discontinuance of service—Interest.

In the event any person, firm, corporation, political unit (except the United States and the state of Kansas) or organization living or operating on premises connected to a sanitary sewer, shall neglect, fail or refuse to pay the service charge fixed herein by the governing body of the city for the operation of the sewerage system, a delinquency and termination notice shall be issued at least five days after a bill is delinquent. The delinquency and termination notice shall provide the customer of record with the following information:

(1)

The amount due on the unpaid balance plus interest;

(2)

The customer's right to a hearing before the director of water and sewer or his authorized representative;

(3)

Notice that water and sewer service will be terminated in five days if the amount due plus interest remains unpaid.

If the customer of record is not the occupant where sewer service is provided, similar notice shall be provided to the occupant. The request for a hearing must be submitted in writing to the director of water and sewer no later than three working days before the scheduled termination of service. The hearing request must specify the reasons the customer of record is challenging the bill. All items included in the sewer bill not specified in the request shall be paid in full on the date the bill is due. Such hearings shall be conducted by the director of water and sewer, or other city representatives as may be appointed by the director of water and sewer. The department of water and sewer is authorized to discontinue and disconnect water and/or sewer service for any customer who shall be delinquent in the payment of bills. Customers are responsible for furnishing the department of water and sewer a correct billing address. Until paid, such charges shall constitute a lien upon the real estate served by the connection to the sewer, and shall be certified by the clerk of the city to the county clerk, to be placed on the tax roll for collection, subject to the same penalties and collected in like manner as other taxes are by law collectible, and the governing body of the city is authorized to refuse the delivery of water through the pipes and mains of publicly owned waterworks until such time as such charges are fully paid.

An amount equal to one and one-half percent of the unpaid balance will be added to all bills not paid within twenty-five days of the date of issuance.

(Ord. No. 41-860 § 1)