Chapter 15 · Utilities

Article 1. Water

Sections 15-101 to 15-111 · 11 sections

15-101 Service connections.

The water mains and pipes of the city shall be tapped only by the officers and employees of the city, and the city, by its officers and employees, shall install and service pipes from the mains to the property lines, meters and curb cocks, and shall make all excavations in the public street which shall be necessary in the premises. The cost of making such connections shall be fixed by the city and shall be paid by the applicant for water service in such manner and at such time as shall be determined by the mayor and the council.

(Code 2005, 6-100s; Code 2020)

15-102 Application for service connections and reconnections.

(a)Any person desiring municipal water service shall make application therefore to the city clerk on a form furnished for that purpose. The application shall be accompanied by a connection fee in the amount of $10.00.

(b)A fee in the amount of $30.00 in addition to any other applicable fee, shall be charged to any customer requesting that municipal water service be reconnected to the customer’s premises at any time other than the regular working hours of municipal utility employees.

(Code 2005, 6-100s; Code 2020)

15-103 Installations beyond property line.

All users of water shall install attachments and appurtenances necessary to carry the water from the property line at their own expense and in accordance with the laws of the city. All such attachments and appurtenances shall be kept in good repair and at all reasonable hours be open to inspection by the city.

(Code 2005, 6-100s; Code 2020)

15-104 Turning water on.

Water shall not be turned on into any house, building or private service line except by the order of the utilities superintendent, and plumbers are prohibited from turning water on into any service pipes except upon orders of the utilities superintendent. This rule shall not prevent any plumber from admitting water for test purposes, and for those purposes only.

(Code 2005, 6-100s; Code 2020)

15-105 Unlawful taking of water.

Unless authorized by the utilities superintendent or other city officer to do so, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to use or take water from any part of the water works system, or to open, dig out, cover up or remove any fire plug or hydrant, stop cock, valve, valve box, or other fixture appertaining to the water works system, or to turn on any water pipe after the same has been closed by the city. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to construct a private water system on any premises served by the city water system.

(Code 2005, 6-100s; Code 2020)

15-106 Application for service; deposit.

Any person, firm or corporation desiring water service where connection shall have been installed shall make application to the city clerk in such form as may be required, he or she shall pay to the city clerk a sum equal to the previous three months occupied average water usage. Such deposit may at the option of the city be applied to the customer’s delinquent water bill or bills due on discontinuance of service; provided, that the city shall keep a separate account of the date on which such deposit was received, the name of the depositor, and the amount thereof, and shall pay to the customer making the deposit interest at the rate determined by the Kansas Corporation Commission, all in accordance with K.S.A. 12-822. This deposit shall be added to the total deposit paid to the city for all other utilities that the customer receives.

(Code 2005, 6-100s; Ord. 1637; Code 2020)

15-107 Deposit; returned; waived.

(a)The deposit required of municipal water service customers by section 15-106 shall be returned to such customer upon the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(1)Such customer shall be the legal title owner of the property to which municipal water service is provided.

(2)The account or accounts of such customer for all property to which municipal water service is provided shall not have been delinquent at any time during the immediately preceding 72 month period.

(b)In the event that a customer by previous account with the city satisfies both of the foregoing conditions at the time of application for municipal water service, the deposit required by section 15-106 shall be waived.

(Code 2005, 6-100s; Code 2020)

15-108 Billing; delinquency; termination.

(a)Bills for water service shall be rendered monthly. Bills shall become delinquent if not paid on or before the due date as indicated on such water bill. If bill is not paid on or before the due date, a delinquency and termination notice shall be issued by the city clerk within five days after the delinquency occurs and mailed to the customer or 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 late payment charge;

(2)That the service will be terminated if the amount due is not paid within five days from the date of the notice;

(3)That the customer has a right to a hearing;

(4)That the request for a hearing must be in writing on a form provided by the city clerk, and that the request must be made 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 (Saturday, Sunday and holidays excluded) following receipt of the request. The hearing may be conducted by the governing body, the city clerk or such hearing officer as may be appointed by the governing body.

(d)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 utilities superintendent. If the officer finds that service should be terminated, an order shall be issued terminating service three days after the date of the order. The customer shall be notified either in person, posting a notice on the premises, or by mail, unless the order is made at the hearing in the presence of the customer. The hearing officer has authority for good cause, to grant an extension, not to exceed 10 days, for the termination of service.

(Code 2005, 6-100s; Code 2020)

15-109 Water rates.

The city will furnish water to consumers only upon meter measure and at the following rates per month:

(a)Base fee of $28.00

(b)Each 1000 gallons used $5.00

The city will furnish water service tap at cost plus 10 percent; in addition the city will extend its water mains a distance of 150 feet to improved property, and a distance of 100 feet to unimproved property at no cost to the customer.

(Code 2005, 6-100s; Ord. 1508; Ord. 1568; Ord. 1592; Ord. 1625; Ord. 1692; Code 2020; Ord. 1763; Ord. 1818)

15-110 Access to meter.

The city shall have access to its water meter located at a customers address at all times. If a fence, dog, or other object is installed in such a manner that access is restricted, the customer shall pay all actual costs of moving the meter to a location that provides unrestricted access.

(Code 2005, 6-100s; Code 2020)

15-111 Cross connection code adopted.

(a)The model ordinance known as the “cross connection control model ordinance,” as prepared by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment such portions are hereinafter deleted, modified or amended, is hereby incorporated by reference and shall be as much a part of this article as if set out in full herein. The filed copies of the model ordinance shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy” as Incorporated by Ordinance No. 1194.” All sections or portions of the filed copies shall be clearly marked to show deletions or amendments from the model ordinance.

(b)PENALTY. Any person violating any of the provisions of the Cross Connection Model Ordinance shall, upon conviction, be fined an amount not to exceed $500.00.

(Ord. 1194; Code 2020)