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University Park Code of Ordinances
Chaoter II: Utilities & Solid Waste
ARTICLE 11.200 UTILITY OFFICE MANAGER
Sec. 11.201 Office Created
It is hereby created the position of manager of the utility office who shall hold the office
at the will of the city manager. Such manager shall be directly responsible to the finance
director. (Revised Code of Ordinances, 1981, Chapter 11, Section 1A)
Sec. 11.202 Other Employees Authorized
The manager of the utility office may employ such other employees as are necessary to
assist the manager in running the office. Such employees shall be responsible for the
billing and collection system. The maintenance of the distribution system shall be the
responsibility of the public works department. (Revised Code of Ordinances, 1981,
Chapter 11, Section 1B)
Sec. 11.203 Duties
(a) It shall be the duty of the manager of the utility office to obtain the necessary
prerequisites and arrange for the providing of water and sewer service for all consumers
in the city.
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(b) It is the duty of the manager to assure that all consumers receive a monthly
statement of charges for water, sewer, and garbage collection services.
(c) It is the duty of the manager of the utility office to collect all water, sewer, and
sanitation charges and keep a record thereof.
(d) It shall be the duty of the manager of the utility office to assure that the utility office
is operated in accordance with the various sections comprising this chapter.
(Revised Code of Ordinances, 1981, Chapter 11, Section 1 C)
ARTICLE 11.300 UTILITY SYSTEM SERVICE POLICIES
Sec. 11.301 Use of Water Generally
It shall be unlawful for any person to take or use water from the system of the city
waterworks except under the terms and conditions specified in this article. All owners
and occupants of property are hereby prohibited from furnishing water to any person for
any purpose other than is specified herein without the written consent of the manager of
the utility office. (Revised Code of Ordinances, 1981, Chapter 11, Section 2A)
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Universitv Park Code o(Ordinances
Chaoter 11: Utilities & Solid Waste
Sec. 11.302 Application for Water Service
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use water from any service connection until
application for such service has been filed as provided in this section. Before water shall
be supplied to any person or premises by the city, the owner or occupant of the property
shall make an application in writing for such service upon a form furnished by the
manager of the utility office, which application shall contain a contract on the part of the
applicant to pay the stipulated water rate and sewer fees in the time and manner provided
for in this article, reserving to the city the right to collect all rents and charges in the
manner provided for in this article and to change rates and temporarily discontinue
service without notice to the consumer and to further provide that the city and the
manager of the utility office shall not be responsible for any damage by water or
otherwise resulting from defective plumbing, broken or faulty services or water mains, or
resulting from any condition of the water itself or any substance that may be mixed with
or be in the water as delivered to the consumer.
(b) Such application shall state whether the property is occupied by owner or tenant and
shall give the address where bills should be mailed.
(c) If such application is for service to a residence, the name of the head of the family
in control of such premises shall be given, and if for service other than a residence, the
name or names of the person or persons in control of the premises or of the business shall
be given. The application shall also show in whose name the account has been carried for
water heretofore furnished for any such family or business.
(d) If any person shall make any false statement in such application, he shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Revised Code of Ordinances, 1981, Chapter 11, Section 2B)
Sec. 11.303 Water Meter Security Deposits
(a) Before water service is furnished to a consumer at any address, the consumer shall
be required, upon making application for such service, to deposit with the manager of the
utility office, deposits in accordance with a resolution of the city council establishing
such amounts.
(b) In the case of apartments or business institutions, the city council resolution may
require a deposit equal to two (2) times the average monthly bill on such premises or may
require some other reasonable deposit.
(c) Property owners with a water deposit currently on file with the city and who have a
satisfactory payment record, may be allowed to begin water service at a second property
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University Park Code of Ordinances
Chapter 11: Utilities & Solid Waste
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before a second deposit is made, provided that the request is made in writing to the utility
manager within five (5) days and the deposit is posted with the utility office manager
within five (5) days of service start. If the written request or deposit is not posted within
five (5) days, the water will be turned off at the expense of the property owner. All
installation and hook-up charges apply.
(Revised Code of Ordinances, 1981, Chapter 11, Section 2C)
Sec. 11.304 Utility Service Installation
Before any water or sewer service shall be supplied to any person or premises, such
person, occupant, or owner of such premises shall apply to the building department for a
permit for installation of water and/or sewer service and shall pay all fees as set out in
this article. (Revised Code of Ordinances, 1981, Chapter 11, Section 2D)
Sec. 11.305 Monthly Statements
(a) It shall be the duty of the city manager of the utility office to mail monthly
statements to all consumers showing the amount of charges under this chapter for water,
sewer and garbage collection service for the approximate thirty (30) day period prior to
the mailing of such statements. Such statements may be mailed in two (2) cycles. One (1)
cycle shall be mailed as near the 1 st of the month as practicable. The second shall be
mailed as near the 15th of the month as practicable. Consumers will have twenty (20)
days from the date of mailing of the statement to pay the amount of such statement
without penalty. Payments made after the twenty (20) day period shall bear a penalty
equal to ten (10) percent of the combined water and sewer service bill. The manager of
the utility office may waive such penalty for good and sufficient cause; however, only
one penalty may be waived during a twelve (12) month billing period.
(b) If the consumer has not paid the bill within twenty-five (25) days after the date of
mailing thereof, it shall be the duty of the manager of the utility office to notify the
consumer in writing that the water is to be cut off and service discontinued at the end of a
ten (10) day period if payment has not been received in the office.
(c) The consumer may ask for an administrative hearing with the finance director
and/or city manager to present valid reasons why the water should not be cut off and
service discontinued. This may be done at any time during the ten (10) day period after
notice of discontinuance is give. Should the finance director and/or city manager decide
that the customer does indeed have a valid reason for not paying the bill at this time,
water service may be continued. Customer will be advised at this time when payment is
expected and conditions thereof.
(Ordinance 97/4 adopted 3/19/97)
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Universitv Park Code of Ordinances
Chaoter 11: Utilities & Solid Waste
Sec. 11.306 When Water Cut Off for Non-Payment of Bills
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When water is cut off from any consumer or from any premises on account of
nonpayment for water and sewer services furnished, the manager of the utility office shall
not permit the water or sewer services to be furnished to said premises or consumer until
the full amount delinquent, the ten (10) percent penalty and a collection or reconnection
charge is paid. Such amount shall be paid at the utility office if the service is reconnected
during normal office hours. (Revised Code of Ordinances, 1981, Chapter 11, Section 2F)
Sec. 11.307 Emergency Water Cut Off Service
Whenever any consumer, owner or occupant of premises shall request the city to cut off
his water service at the meter for his convenience or due to the fact that his stop and
waste or house cut off is either nonfunctional or cannot be found, then the manager of the
utility office shall add a service fee to his bill for each cut off. (Revised Code of
Ordinances, 1981, Chapter 11, Section 2G)
Sec. 11.308 Examination and Test of Meters
(a) Any consumer shall have the right to demand that the meter through which water is
being furnished be examined and tested by the waterworks for the purpose of ascertaining
whether it is or is not registering correctly, the amount of water which is being delivered
through it to such consumer. When a consumer desires to have any meter so examined
and tested, he shall make application in writing to the manager of the utility office, and
deposit with such application an amount charged in accordance with the size of the meter.
(b) When such application and deposit is made, it shall be the duty of the manager of
the utility office to cause such meter to be examined and tested for the purpose of
ascertaining whether it is registering correctly the amount of water being delivered
through it. If on such examination and test, any meter of one inch (1 ") or smaller in size,
shall be found to register over two (2) percent more water than actually passes through it,
another meter will be substituted therefor, and the fee charged in the application for such
test shall be repaid to the person making such application. If any meter larger than one
(1) inch in size, upon such examination and test, shall be found to register over three (3)
percent more water than actually passes through it, the fee charged in the application for
the test shall be repaid to the person making the application, and the applicant shall be
advised as to what repairs or replacements are necessary to secure correct registration
through such meter.
(c) Whenever any meter is found to be out of order and not registering correctly, the
consumer shall be charged with an average daily consumption as shown by the meter
when registering correctly.
(Revised Code of Ordinances, 1981, Chapter 11, Section 2H)
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