Willits Municipal Code Ch. 14.56 Disconnection of Services

If payment is not received within forty-five days after the mailing of the bill the city manager shall mail or cause to be mailed a notice to the delinquent customer notifying the customer that water service will be disconnected if the bill is not paid within forty-eight hours and advising the customer of the opportunity to make payment arrangements. If full payment is not received, or arrangements for payments have not been made to the satisfaction of the city, the service shall be disconnected as provided in the notice. The ordinance codified in this section shall become effective thirty days from its adoption.

(Ord. 11-04 (part): Ord. 10-03, § 1 (part))

If a customer disputes the correctness of the billing, the water department supervisor shall hear and investigate or cause to be heard and investigated the dispute and shall make adjustments as he/she deems appropriate under the circumstances. The customer may appeal the decision of the water department supervisor to the city manager whose decision shall be final. The customer shall file his notice of appeal with the city manager within ten days after receiving notice of the water department supervisor's decision. The water department supervisor's decision shall be in writing and shall state the customer's right of appeal and that if the notice of appeal is not filed, the service will be disconnected without further notice. If the customer does not appeal and full payment is not received, the service shall be disconnected. If the customer files an appeal but does not comply with the decision of the city manager and full payment is not received, the service shall be disconnected.

(Ord. 10-03, § 1 (part))

Upon discontinuance of service, the water department may notify the city code enforcement officer of the service disconnection.

(Ord. 10-03, § 1 (part))

All notices shall be in a form established from time to time by the city clerk in consultation with the city attorney.

(Ord. 10-03, § 1 (part))

If a customer has been previously delinquent in the payment of its water bill or bills or has been previously disconnected for nonpayment of a bill, the city manager may require an additional deposit, in excess of the regular deposit to be set by the city council per Section 14.40.010. The amount of the additional deposit may not exceed the amount set forth in Section 14.72.080.

(Ord. 10-03, § 1 (part))

Water service will not be restored to the disconnected property until all delinquent water charges, late fees, interest charges, penalties for disconnection and required security deposits have been paid.

(Ord. 10-03, § 1 (part))

A request for disconnection for customer service shall only be honored by the city from the customer in whose name the service was established.

(Ord. 10-03, § 1 (part))

If a customer requests that water service be temporarily disconnected, the water department shall terminate water service by turning off the service at the meter and, in such event, the customer shall be subject to the monthly water meter minimum charge.

(Ord. 10-03, § 1 (part))

The meter must be installed within a twelve-month period after fees have been paid or connection fees shall be refunded to applicant, and connection forfeited. If the connection fees were paid in full by an applicant prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, then the applicant will not be required to install meter within twelve months.

(Ord. 10-03, § 1 (part))

New service connection(s) are not permitted to be purchased until a building permit for the corresponding project is issued by the city of Willits.

(Ord. 10-03, § 1 (part))