Ione Municipal Code Ch. 13.52 Billing and Collection

Collection of Sewer Service Charges. All sewer service charges shall be billed and collected and deposited in a special fund established and maintained for that purpose.

(Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

Beginning on January 1, 2019, sewer charges will be billed monthly on the first day of the month and will be due upon receipt.

(Ord. No. 502, 12-18-2018; Res. 1067 § 1, 1997: Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

All sewer service charges shall be billed to the current owner of the premises. It shall be and is made the duty of all owners to inform the city clerk immediately of any change in ownership of the premises. In particular, but not by way of limitation, owner shall immediately inform the city clerk of any sale or transfer of such premises by such owner. The owner of the premises is and shall be responsible for payment of any and all sewer service charges applicable to the premises owned by such owner.

(Res. 1067 § 2, 1997: Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, each sewer charge shall be delinquent, if not paid in full, on the 25th day of the month for which the service was billed.

(Ord. No. 502, 12-18-2018; Res. 1067 § 3, 1997: Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

A. All bills not paid by the end of business on the 25th day of the month for which services were billed shall be delinquent and shall accrue a penalty of $5.00 per month for balance of less than $50.00. For accounts delinquent in an amount of $50.00 or more, penalties shall be assessed at the rate of $5.00 per month plus an additional ten percent of the balance owing. Penalties shall be calculated on the 26th day of the month following billing and shall become part of the principle bill upon assessment.

B. Delinquent fees may not be waived by the City of Ione at a frequency exceeding once in every 36 months. This provision allows for a courtesy waiver only and is not intended to require the waiver of late payments.

(Ord. No. 502, 12-18-2018; Res. 1067 § 4, 1997: Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

In the event of the failure of any person billed or the owner of the premises to pay when due any sewer service charges applicable to premises owned by him, the city may enforce payments of such delinquent charges in any of the following manners:

A. The city may have such premises disconnected from the sanitary sewer system. In the event such disconnection should create a public hazard or nuisance, the superintendent or his representatives may enter upon the premises for the purpose of doing such things as may be reasonably necessary to alleviate or remove such hazard or menace. The owner of such premises shall have a duty to reimburse the city for all expenses incurred by city in disconnecting any such premises, or in doing other things authorized by this section; and no reconnection shall be made until all such charges are paid.

B. The city clerk may institute action in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect any charges which may be due and payable in the same manner as any other debts owing to the city may be collected.

C. As an alternative procedure, the city may provide any and all delinquent payments be placed on the tax roll, and collected with property taxes, as provided in Chapter 13.56.

D. The city may provide otherwise for the collection of such delinquent charges. All remedies provided for in this section for their enforcement and collection are cumulative and may be pursued alternatively or collectively as the city determines. If any remedy is invalid, all valid remedies shall remain effectual.

E. The city shall collect, in addition to any sewer service charge or penalty or interest assessment, an administrative fee calculated on the actual costs of the city for collection actions described in this section or as described in Chapter 13.56 of this Code.

(Ord. No. 495, 9-5-2017; Ord. 323 § 2(part), 1992).

Owners of rental premises may request that the current renter/lessee of said premises shall be the designated customer of record for billing purposes. The request shall be submitted by the owner of the premises to the city on an application form prescribed by the city, and shall include a refundable deposit equal to three months sewer service charges. The city will notify the owner of approval or denial of the application within ten days of receipt of the application. The city may deny the application based on history of nonpayment or delinquency and/or failure to submit the deposit. If the application is approved, the city will hold the deposit until the owner notifies the city that the rent/lease agreement has expired. Upon receiving notification that the rent/lease agreement has expired, the city will apply the deposit to the closing statement, and refund any remaining deposit amount. If the application is approved, the owner of the premises and the renter/lessee shall be jointly and severally responsible for payment of any and all sewer service charges, including penalties and interest. If the application is approved, the owner of the premises and the renter/lessee shall be subject to the enforcement provisions set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 410 § 1, 2008).