For purposes of this article utility services shall include water, electrical, sewer, solid waste (refuse) and other utility services provided by the city.

(Ord. 991; Code 1998)

Unless otherwise provided, water, electric, sewer, solid waste (refuse) or other utility service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges in accordance with sections 15-103:104. The City shall disconnect only the particular utility service which service fees and charges have not been paid.

(Ord. 1555; Code 2011)

(a)   If a utility bill has not been paid on or before the due date as provided in this chapter, a delinquency and termination notice shall be issued by the city clerk within five days after the delinquency occurs and mailed to the customer at his or her last known address. A copy also shall be mailed to the occupant of the premises if the occupant and the customer are not the same person.

(b)   The notice shall state:

(1)   The amount due, plus delinquency charge;

(2)   Notice that service will be terminated if the amount due is not paid within 10 days from the date of the notice unless the date on the notice to pay the charges due shall be on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which event such notice will give the consumer until the close of the next business day in which to pay the charges;

(3)   Notice that the customer has the right to a hearing before the designated hearing officer;

(4)   Notice that the request for a hearing must be in writing and filed with the city clerk no later than three days prior to the date for termination of service.

(c)   Upon receipt of a request for hearing, the city clerk shall advise the customer of the date, time and place of the hearing which shall be held within three working days following receipt of the request.

(Ord. 991; Code 1998)

Following the hearing, if the hearing officer shall find that service should not be terminated, then notice of such finding shall be presented to the city clerk. If the officer finds that service should be terminated, an order shall be issued terminating service five days after the date of the order. The customer shall be notified either in person or by mailing a letter to his or her last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested. However, if the order is made at the hearing in the presence of the customer, then no further notice need be given. The hearing officer has a right, for good cause, to grant an extension, not to exceed 10 days, for the termination of such service.

(Code 1998)

(a)   At the time of making application for utility service, the property owner or consumer shall make a cash deposit in the amount set by the governing body to secure payment of accrued bills or bills due on discontinuance of service. Receipt thereof shall be issued to each such depositor.

(b)   Cash deposits for the indicated utility services shall be in the following amounts:

(1)   Water and Sewer Service –  $150

(2)   Water and Sewer Service –  $50 with Letter of Good Standing from a public utility provider

(c)   The deposit so made shall be kept by the city clerk in a separate account and deposited in a fund designated as the “meter deposit fund.” Interest shall be payable at the rate determined by the state corporation commission yearly and credited to the customer’s account January 1st of each calendar year.

(d)   The meter deposit paid by a customer of the utility shall be returned by the city clerk to those customers only under the following conditions:

(1)   Any owner of the property for which a utility deposit has been paid by the owner shall be entitled to the return of the security deposit if the owner has timely paid his or her utility bills from the city for 12 consecutive months, next preceding the return of the deposit, without incurring a late charge; or when the owner has requested termination of utility service and has paid all utility charges from the city.

(2)   Any non-owner of the property for which a utility security deposit has been paid by the non-owner shall be entitled to the return of the security deposit if the non-owner has timely paid his or her utility bills from the city for 12 consecutive months, next preceding the return of the deposit, without incurring a late charge; or when the non-owner has requested termination of utility service and has paid all utility charges from the city.

(e)   Upon the discontinuance of any service at the request of the depositor, the deposit shall be refunded together with the accrued interest thereon less any amount due and owing the city for services furnished prior thereto.

(f)   Any security deposit not refunded within three years after discontinuance of service shall be deposited in the operating fund of the respective utility of the city upon compliance with the provisions of K.S.A. 12-822 as amended.

(Ord. 1552; Code 2011; Code 2017)

(a)   In the event that any person, except the United States or the state of Kansas, shall fail to pay the fees or charges for such utility services(s), utility service shall be terminated as provided in sections 15-102:104. The governing body may refuse the delivery of utility service(s), as permitted by law, until such time as the fees and charges are paid in full.

(b)   In the event that any person, except the United States or the state of Kansas, residing, occupying, using or operating on property to which utility service(s) furnished by the city is not paid, the unpaid fees or charges shall constitute a lien upon the property to which the utilities are furnished. The amount of the unpaid fees or charges shall be certified by the governing body to the county clerk of the county in which the property is located, to be placed upon the tax roll for collection, subject to the same penalties and collected in the same manner as other taxes are collected by law.

(c)   The lien, described in subsection (b) of this section, shall not attach to property for unpaid utility fees or charges when the utility service(s) have been contracted for by a tenant and not by the landlord or owner of the property to which the utility service is provided.

(d)   If at the time of application for utility service the applicant has an outstanding balance or unpaid fees or charges for utility services provided by the city, the application shall not be accepted until all fees or charges are paid in full.

(e)   If utility service is furnished to leased premises on the application and request of the lessor of the premises, then all billings for utilities furnished to such leased premises shall be made directly to the lessor, and the lessor shall be fully liable for the cost of service furnished.

(Code 2011)

(a)   Owners of premises served by utility service under this article may be liable for payment of the costs of any utility service account delinquency arising from service provides to such premises, regardless of whether the utility service was furnished upon the application and request of the owner or lessee of the premises. This provision shall also apply when the premises are leased by or through an agent or other representative of the owner.

(b)   In the event that a delinquency arises involving leased premises, in addition to the tenant, the owner or owner’s agent shall be notified in writing of the delinquency of the lessee by first class regular mail within 10 days after the billing to the lessee becomes delinquent. Notice shall be sufficient if mailed to the last known address of the owner or owner’s agent known to city personnel responsible for said mailing, after reasonable inquiry.

(c)   If utility service is furnished to a leased premises on the application or request of the lessor of the premises, then all billings for utilities furnished to such leased premises shall be made directly to the lessor, and the lessor shall be fully liable for the cost of service finished.

(d)   The city may collect the amount of the unpaid bill for utility services by any lawful means. Provided, however, that in no event may the city place a lien, as provided in subsection (b) of 15-106, on real estate of the lessor.

(Code 2011)

A petty cash fund in the amount of $250 is established for the use of the city utilities department, for the purpose of paying postage, freight, temporary labor, and other emergency expenses, including refund of deposits made to secure payment of accounts.

(Code 2011)

The petty cash fund shall be deposited in the regular depository bank of the city and paid out 0111 the order of the city clerk by check which shall state clearly the purpose for which issued.

(Code 2011)

Whenever the petty cash fund becomes low or depleted, the city clerk shall prepare vouchers covering expenses as have been paid from the petty cash fund and shall submit such vouchers together with the paid checks to the governing body for review and allowance of the amounts from the regular funds of the utilities. Warrants issued therefor shall be payable to the petty cash fund and shall be deposited therein to restore said petty cash fund to its original amount.

(Code 1998)

(a)   The city may discontinue or refuse a particular utility service to any customer, without notice of hearing, for any of the following reasons:

(1)   When the customer so requests.

(2)   When it is determined by an employee of the city utility department, fire department, or police department that the continuance of a particular utility service constitutes a dangerous condition presenting a likely immediate threat to health or safety of persons or to property on or near the customer’s premises.

(b)   The city may discontinue or refuse a particular utility service to any customer, following compliance with the notice and hearing requirements of section 15-103 for any of the following reasons:

(1)   Nonpayment of utility bills and charges as provided in section 15-102.

(2)   When the customer misrepresents his or her identity or otherwise intentionally provides false information for the purpose of obtaining utility services from the city.

(c)   The city may discontinue or refuse a particular utility service to any customer, following notice to the customer, for any of the reasons set out in this subsection. The customer shall have the right to a hearing within a reasonable time, not to exceed 10 days, following termination or refusal of service. If after such hearing the hearing officer finds in favor of the customer the hearing officer may order connection or reconnection of the service at no cost to the customer.

(1)   When the customer refuses to grant employees of the city’s utility department access to equipment installed upon the premises of the customer for the purpose of inspection, meter reading, maintenance or replacement.

(2)   When the customer violates any rule, regulation or ordinance of the city pertaining to utility services, which violation adversely affects the safety of the customer or other persons, or the integrity of the city’s utility services’ delivery system.

(3)   When the customer attempts, causes or permits unauthorized interference, diversion, theft, tampering, damage or use of utility services or the utility services’ delivery system situated or delivered on or about the customer’s premises.

(Ord. 991; Code 1998)