§ 42-207. Collection.

The utilities department is hereby authorized to enforce the payment of charges for water service to any premises by discontinuing the water service to such premises and the payment of charges for sewage disposal service to any premises may be enforced by discontinuing either the water service or the sewage disposal service to such premises, or both, and an action may be instituted by the city against the user. The charges for water service, which, under the provisions of Public Act No. 94 of 1933 (MCL 141.101 et seq.), are made a lien on the premises to which furnished, and the director shall, annually, on June 1, certify all unpaid charges for such services furnished to any premises which, on March 31 preceding, have remained unpaid for a period of six months, to the city assessor who shall place the same on the next tax roll of the city. Such charges so assessed shall be collected in the same manner as general city taxes. In cases where the city is properly notified in accordance with said Act 94 of 1933, as amended, that a tenant is responsible for water service charges, no such service shall be commenced or continued to such premises until there has been deposited with the department, a sum equal to the last three month's billing for water based on the average residential usage for the previous calendar year, such deposit to be in no case less than $40.00, plus the deposit required in article II of chapter 32, pertaining to solid waste, and article IV of this chapter, pertaining to sewer service. The city will allow up to seven calendar days for payment of such deposit where the tenant has been residing for at least 30 days prior to notification of responsibility. When the water service to any premises is turned off to enforce the payment of water service charges or sewage disposal charges, the water service shall not be restored until all delinquent charges have been paid and a deposit, as in the case of tenants, is made, and there shall be a water turn-on charge as herein specified. In any other case where, in the discretion of the director, the collection of charges for water or sewage disposal service is difficult or uncertain, the director may require a deposit. Such deposit as described in this section may be applied against any delinquent water or sewage disposal service charges and the application thereof shall not affect the right of the department to turn off the water service and/or sewer service, to any premises for any delinquency thereby satisfied. No such deposit shall bear interest and such deposit, or any remaining balance thereof, shall be returned to the user making the same when he shall discontinue receiving water and sewage disposal service. Said refunds will be made only upon completion of appropriate refund requests forms and the refund amount will be determined and a check drawn within 14 days of the date of the refund request.

(Prior Code, § 2.65; Ord. No. 2000-08, § 1(2.65), 5-15-2000; Ord. No. 2003-11, 5-19-2003)