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ORDINANCE NO. 37 -2008
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
SECTION 70 -38 TO PROVIDE FOR BILLING OF WATER SERVICES
FOR THE CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA
An ordinance to amend the Code of Ordinances for the City of Tybee Island, Georgia, to
provide for billing of water services for the City of Tybee Island.
Now therefore, be it ordained that the Code of Ordinances, City of Tybee Island, Section
70 -38 is hereby amended so as provide as follows:
(a) Bills for water service shall be rendered promptly following the determination of
usage and shall be due and payable at the city cashier's office at City Hall no later than twenty
(20) days from the date of billing. Billing on each account shall occur monthly. Bills shall state
the separate charge for water service, the charge for sewer service and the total thereof. Bills
shall be declared delinquent if not paid within twenty -five (25) days following the date of billing.
(b) Water service may be discontinued whenever the total billing for water service,
sewer service, and sanitation service (if included in the utility billing) is not paid in full and
received at the city cashier's office on the due date. An exception to this provision is when the
amount is equal to or less than one delinquency fee. If a customer disputes a bill, the customer
shall give notice in writing and request a hearing before the due date of the bill. In such cases
where notice by the customer is received, the designated representative of the City shall notify
the customer of the date and time of the hearing during normal working hours. If a customer
who has disputed a bill does not appear for the hearing, termination of service shall be
authorized. The procedure pursuant to this subsection shall not be required when there is
unauthorized use of water services.
For purposes of this subsection, it shall be the duty of any user who is other than a
customer, or any customer whose address shall be other than that shown on the application for
water service to amend or file a new application for water service to reflect the name and/or
address to which notice pursuant notice to this subsection should be transmitted.
When any service is discontinued due to delinquency, it shall not be restored until the
delinquent bill is paid in full, including a service charge. A delinquency fee of $15.00 shall be
charged if the bill is not paid within twenty -five (25) days of the date of billing. A flat fee of
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$35.00 shall be charged when service is resumed after normal working hours. The delinquency
fee may be waived by the City Manager only in cases when a sworn affidavit is provided by the
utility customer that no billing was received due to circumstances beyond their control.
(c) The City shall be authorized to require a deposit following a credit check of an
applicant for service. In the event service is terminated at a customer's request, any balance
remaining on a deposit may be refunded to the customer provided the customer has provided
notice to discontinue service and a forwarding address. In the event services are not paid when
due, services will be applied against the deposit and, in the event a balance remains due
thereafter, such balance shall be billed to the customer.
(d) Tiered Rate Structure.
The City is authorized to impose a tiered rate structure based on usage. A specific
tiered structure shall be approved by the Mayor and Council by resolution and a copy of such
resolution shall be maintained on file in the Office of the Clerk and in the Office of the Finance
Officer of the City.
(e) Deposits.
The City will require a deposit on new accounts for water and sewer services.
The deposit amount on new accounts will be $200.00 for residential service and $500.00 for
commercial service. For commercial service, the customer may request review after a period of
12 months of billings and, if appropriate, the rate will be reduced to the average billing.
(f) Notice of Rate Adjustments.
The City shall provide for notice to affected customers of rate increases thirty (30)
days prior to the effective date of any rate change. However, a customer's failure to receive such
notice shall not impair nor delay an increase. The City may choose to give notice in the same
manner in which billing occurs, on the billing itself, or in any other manner determined by the
City to be reasonably effective in notifying customers.
This Ordinance shall become effective on d j j day of 60! ( > ° , 2008.
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ADOPTED THIDAY OF W/,/ r 2008
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ATTEST:
- 1)/u zeud- 1 • si
CLERK OF COUNCIL
FIRST READING: , �, y f 9A
SECOND READING: - L5
ENACTED: 7 (VC:2 (8
G: \EMH\ORDINANCES\Billing Water -Sewer Services 10.03.08
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