§ 110-124. Rates and charges.

(a)

Rates established. The rates as established from time to time by the county shall apply to retail customers receiving wastewater service from the county. Bulk rates may be established separately by the county. The sewage disposal service charge may be revised independently of changes in water rates. Increases or decreases in water rates do not affect the sewage disposal service charge. The sewage disposal service charges for marinas with sewage pumpout capabilities shall be based on 40 percent of the water usage of the marina.

(b)

Reserved.

(c)

Other charges.

(1)

Turnoff and turn-on fees. Where property is serviced with county water, there will be no turnoff and turn-on fees, as such, for sewer service; however, to enforce this article, water service may be discontinued and the charges for water service turn-on and turnoff shall prevail. In this regard, water service may be turned off due to an infraction of this article and will not be turned on until such time as the infraction is corrected and all costs due the county are paid.

(2)

Miscellaneous charges. Miscellaneous charges shall be made for any work done by the county beyond normal maintenance or extension charges as outlined in this article. This work, which will include such items as moving connections, relocating manholes or any other work done at the property owner's request for the benefit of the property owner, shall be charged for at direct cost plus appropriate overhead. Payment in full for the estimated cost will be required prior to doing this type of work.

(3)

Temporary emergency treatment rates. If a customer desires to use any portion of the sewers or sewage treatment facilities for disposal of sewage on a temporary basis and is not properly connected to the sewer system, he may apply for such service through the county which will compute the costs and require payment in full prior to the use of the system. Should this service be desired on a permanent basis, a proper charge will be estimated and an agreement establishing terms and costs shall be entered into between the county and the customer using the service. It is the intent of the county to discourage this type of service except for municipalities and private utilities, and to this end, the county reserves the right to refuse to accept and also to discontinue this type of service.

(d)

Separate water meter. A customer may have installed by the county at his own expense a separate metered connection with the water main to measure the water which does not get into the sewer system. The bill for water used through such connection will not include the sewage disposal service charge.

(e)

Changing fees and charges. For the purposes of carrying out the intent of this article, the board of county commissioners shall have the power to fix, alter, change or modify, by resolution, rates, commitment fees, connection charges, impact fees and other charges for the use of any wastewater services furnished or to be furnished by the wastewater facilities created, established or acquired by the county. No rate, fee or charge fixed by ordinance shall be modified except by ordinance. However, such rates, commitment fees, connection charges and other fees and charges shall not be fixed until after public hearing, with all the users and owners, tenants and occupants of the property served or to be served and all others interested having the opportunity to be heard concerning the rates, fees and charges. Notice of such public hearing setting forth a schedule of rates, fees and charges to be considered by the board of county commissioners shall be authorized by the board of county commissioners and shall be given by one publication in a newspaper published in the county at least ten days before the date fixed for the hearing, which hearing may be adjourned from time to time. After such hearing, such schedule, either as considered after publication or as modified or amended, shall be adopted by resolution and put into effect. Those rates, commitment fees, impact fees, connection fees and other fees and charges in effect at the time of adoption of the ordinance from which this article derives shall remain in effect until subsequently modified as provided for in this subsection.

(f)

Impact fees for customers of failed systems. Where the county provides retail utility service to a development previously served by an individual septic system or private utility system which has either failed, been abandoned or mandated to cease operation of its existing facilities by state regulatory agencies, one-half of the impact fee due and owing the county for such connection shall be paid within 60 days from the commencement of county service, and the remaining one-half of the impact fee shall be payable in five equal, annual installments over the next five-year period. The unpaid balance, including the annual installments, shall bear interest at the rate of 12 percent per annum commencing 60 days after the initial provision of service by the county.

(Code 1970, § 26-94; Ord. No. 87-10, § 14, 3-24-87; Ord. No. 91-08, § 1, 5-14-91; Ord. No. 06-28, 9-11-06)