(a)   Anyone wishing to connect or disconnect or make any change in the service of utilities must first get a permit from the office of the city clerk authorizing the same.

(b)   Any person connecting, disconnecting, turning on or off any service of utilities without fully complying with this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Code 1988, § 15-116; Code 2016, Sec. 94-36)

Application for requests for connection and disconnection of any utility shall be made at the office of the city clerk or such other office as may be designated by the governing body. Such office shall be open for business between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week.

(Code 1988, § 15-126; Code 2016, Sec. 94-37)

(a)   A service connection charge in the amount established in the city’s fee resolution shall be paid in advance for each new water tap installation. Such charge shall include the cost of a 5/8 of an inch meter, ¾ of an inch corporation stop, type K copper from the corporation stop to the meter yoke, the meter yoke, the meter tile, ring and lid. Copper service shall extend to the stop in the area between the rear of the curb and the sidewalk on the public right-of-way, unless the same is deemed impractical, in which case the location shall be selected by the city administrator or designee.

(b)   Taps in excess of ¾ of an inch will be installed with the actual cost of material and labor in the installation of same, to be billed to the property owner.

(c)   For the installation of taps outside the city limits, the actual cost of the labor and material shall be billed to the property owner. In no case shall charges be less than the minimum charge set forth for city water taps of a similar nature within the city limits.

(d)   All 5/8-inch meters installed within the city will be furnished and maintained by the city. Larger size meters will be purchased by the owners, and will be maintained by the city.

(e)   Meters installed outside the city limits shall be purchased by the owner from the city, or a city- approved make furnished from other sources. The maintenance of such meters shall be the owner’s responsibility.

(f)    All service connections and meters installed within the city limits will remain the property of the city. All meter replacements within the city limits will be made at the cost and expense of the city, and the title to any meters so replaced will remain in the city.

(Code 1988, § 15-105; Code 2016, Sec. 94-38)

Wherever there exists the need for the elimination of a split water service as provided for elsewhere in city ordinances, the tap charges therefor shall be in an amount established in the city’s fee resolution.

(Code 1988, § 15-106; Code 2016, Sec. 94-39)

All new customers for electricity requiring meter changes shall be charged an amount established in the city’s fee resolution for each permanent meter installation and an amount established in the city’s fee resolution for each temporary installation. All meters for electric service shall be maintained by the city.

(Code 1988, § 15-107; Code 2016, Sec. 94-40)

Where no serviceable tap is existing, the applicant must pay for a new tap. Where a serviceable gas or water tap exists and the customer desires another in a more favorable location, the customer may obtain such location by applying for a new gas or water tap and paying the appropriate tap charge, and also paying the cost of time and materials to plug the old existing gas or water tap serving the property.

(Code 1988, § 15-108(b); Code 2016, Sec. 94-41)

The city will bring normal water and gas service to the lot or curbline, there install and maintain a stop, and bring the electric service to the building or place of delivery, at such place as may be designated by the city, through its electrician or other proper officer. The meter shall be on the consumer’s side of the delivery point, with a cutoff at the delivery point, or between it and the meter.

(Code 1988, § 15-110; Code 2016, Sec. 94-42)

(a)   Each premises on which is located a building used for dwelling purposes, or each building used for dwelling purposes, shall have its own tap or service connection and meter. This section will not require the readjustment of any service now installed in any building, except on being reconstructed. When any two or more premises or buildings shall become separately owned by more than one person, a separate tap or service connection and meter must be installed for each of the premises or buildings so separately owned.

(b)   For the purpose of this article, a building used for dwelling purposes shall include any building used for residential occupation, including single-family and multiple-family dwellings, but excluding a hotel or tourist court, home or motel, which is principally occupied by transient guests.

(c)   Where any building is owned by two or more owners, each owning separate parts of the building, each part shall be considered for the purpose of this article to be a separate premises.

(Code 1988, § 15-111; Code 2016, Sec. 94-43)

In all buildings occupied by more than one tenant or occupant, service connections may be made as follows:

(a)   By separate tap for each tenant or occupant; or

(b)   By the owner, upon approval of the city administrator or the governing body, installing at the owner’s own expense, as many meters as such owner desires, but all service shall be measured through one master meter and charged to the owner. Such owner shall read the owner’s own meters and collect from the owner’s tenants. The city will furnish the submeters and charge the cost of the meters to the owner at store cost.

(c)   Where electric service is furnished to trailer courts and where the city has furnished the meter loop and master meter and the trailer court owner has furnished individual wiring, poles, services and electric meters for each trailer space, the billing charges shall be as follows: The city meter reader will read the master meter and each individual meter. The trailer court owner shall be billed, at the commercial rate, for the consumption on the master meter, less the combined total of consumption on the individual meters at domestic rates. An initial service charge, as described in section 15-211, shall be required for each master meter and each of the individual meters.

(Code 1988, § 15-112; Code 2016, Sec. 94-44)

All taps in the city’s mains or wires within the city limits and the laying and installing of service lines shall be by the city, except that licensed plumbers and electricians, upon permit granted therefor, make such taps and connections. All persons desiring any such service shall cause an application to be made in the office of the city clerk by a licensed electrician or plumber employed by such person. Such application shall be made on forms furnished by the city clerk, and applicants shall get a permit therefor which shall be issued by the city clerk. A permit for temporary service during the construction of a building or other structure may be made upon the application of the contractor or the land owner.

(Code 1988, § 15-113; Code 2016, Sec. 94-45)

At the time of application for service, the applicant shall pay to the city clerk an initial service charge in an amount established in the city’s fee resolution for each meter for service, which is a deposit and is not refundable.

(Code 1988, § 15-114; Code 2016, Sec. 94-46)

Owners of rental property, having paid the application fees one time, shall be entitled to utilities service from time to time for purposes of repair or cleanup without payment of additional fees. Similarly, contractors engaged in construction or remodeling projects, having once paid the application fees, shall not be required to pay the application fees for utilities service at subsequent construction or remodeling project locations.

(Code 1988, § 15-115; Code 2016, Sec. 94-47)

No person shall be entitled to service from the city for gas, water or electricity so long as such person is in arrears for any such service. Being in arrears on any one of the services shall deprive such person, company or corporation of the right to that or any other service from the city so long as such delinquency remains.

(Code 1988, § 15-118; Code 2016, Sec. 94-48)

(a)   A charge in an amount established in the city’s fee resolution will be made and paid for the connection or disconnection of gas and/or water service, and a charge in an amount established in the city’s fee resolution for connection or disconnection of electric service shall be made and paid during the hours when the utilities office of the city is not open for business. For new customers, these charges shall be in addition to the initial service charge provided for in the city’s fee resolution.

(b)   A charge in an amount established in the city’s fee resolution for disconnection of gas and/or water service and in an amount established in the city’s fee resolution for electric service shall be made in cases of emergency due to gas or water leaks or defective electric systems. Orders for connection or disconnection of utilities taken at the utility office after 4:00 p.m. will be processed prior to 5:00 p.m. if the work load of service personnel will permit sufficient time to complete the order. Orders not processed due to work load will be completed as soon as possible the next working day. Office personnel are to make it clear to the customer that orders taken after 4:00 p.m. are taken on a no guarantee basis.

(Code 1988, § 15-127; Ord. 3303, § 1, 2-25-03; Code 2016, Sec. 94-49)

(a)   Any gas, water or electric customers requesting reconnection of service which has been disconnected during the off-season for a period of more than 30 days, shall be charged an amount established in the city’s fee resolution. This section shall apply, but not be limited to, seasonal shutoffs for gardens, air conditioners, furnaces, extended vacations and owners disconnecting for seasonal savings.

(b)   Any gas, water or electric customers requesting reconnection of service, when the service in question shall be reconnected and disconnected for a period of 30 days or less shall be charged in amounts established in the city’s fee resolution.

(Code 1988, § 15-131; Code 2016, Sec. 94-50)

No meters for electric, gas or water service shall be installed unless the size of service lines and meters have been approved by the department head for the utilities to be connected. Advance approval of size of the line and meter may be obtained from the specific department head overseeing the utility at the time of obtaining a permit for new installations or a renewal of old installations.

(Code 1988, § 15-125; Code 2016, Sec. 94-185)