§ 42-421. Collection of rates.

The utilities department is hereby authorized to enforce the payment of charges for sewer 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 of assumpsit may be instituted by the city against the customer. The charges for water services and sewage disposal 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, are hereby recognized to constitute such lien; 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, as amended, that a tenant is responsible for water and sewage disposal service charges, no such service shall be commenced or continued to such premises until there has been deposited with the utilities department a sum equal to the last three months bill for sewer service based on the average residential usage for the previous calendar year, such deposit to be in no case less than $80.00, plus the deposit required in article II of chapter 32 and article III of this chapter. 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 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 hereby specified. In any other case where in the discretion of the director, the collection of charges for water or sewage disposal service may be difficult or uncertain, the director may require a deposit. Such deposits may be applied against any delinquency, as described above, 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 customer making the same when he shall discontinue receiving water and sewage disposal service. Said refunds will be made only upon completion of appropriate refund request forms; the refund amount will be determined and a check drawn within 14 calendar days of the date of refund request.

(Prior Code, § 2.122; Ord. No. 2000-09, 5-15-2000; Ord. No. 2003-12, 5-19-2003)