Chapter 2-44
WATER DEPARTMENT
Sections:
Article I. Organization
2-44-010 Department established.
2-44-020 Office of superintendent created.
2-44-040 Inspections of system.
Article II. Functions of Department
2-44-050 Water, sewer and refuse charges.
2-44-060 Accounting of receipts and expenditures.
2-44-070 Report of monies received.
2-44-080 Alteration of accounts prohibited—Exceptions.
2-44-090 Duty to render bills—Billing disputes.
2-44-100 Classification of accounts.
2-44-110 Reserve established for capital improvement program.
2-44-120 Superintendent to develop capital improvement plan.
2-44-130 Authority to enter into intergovernmental agreements for the provision of water service.
2-44-140 Purchasing procedures.
2-44-150 Capital improvements to system.
2-44-160 Penalties for bad checks.
Article I. Organization
2-44-010 Department established.
There is established an executive department of the city which shall be known as the water department. The department shall consist of the superintendent of the water department and such other assistants and employees as may be provided for by the annual appropriation ordinance. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-020 Office of superintendent created.
There is created the office of superintendent of water. The superintendent shall be appointed by the mayor by and with the advice of the city council. The superintendent shall maintain such professional certifications as may be required by state or federal regulations with regard to operation of the water system. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-030 Powers and duties.
In addition to the powers and duties conferred upon him by any of the other provisions of this code, the superintendent shall have the following specific duties:
A. To exercise general supervision over the employees of the department and departmental operations;
B. To supervise and maintain the water system of the city, including the extension, installation, repair or relocation of water pipes;
C. To issue permits in accordance with the applicable provisions of the code in connection with the waterworks system;
D. To supervise the collection of all fees for the use of the water and sewer system, and the refuse collection fee;
E. To report to the city comptroller not less than weekly on the receipts and expenditures of the department;
F. To recommend to the chief administrative officer and the mayor a program for capital improvements to the system;
G. Such other and further duties as may be assigned by the mayor or other provisions of this code. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-040 Inspections of system.
The superintendent may cause the water system to be inspected for purposes of ascertaining whether or not users of the system are in compliance with water regulations and may recommend prosecution by the corporation counsel of such persons as are found to be in violation thereof. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
Article II. Functions of Department
2-44-050 Water, sewer and refuse charges.
The superintendent shall be responsible for collection of water charges, sewer charges and refuse charges in accordance with rates established by city ordinance. For purposes of rendering such bills, the superintendent shall have the authority to declare sewer and refuse charges delinquent in the same manner as he may declare a delinquency in water charges. Sewer charges collected by the superintendent shall be accounted for and remitted to the comptroller for deposit into the sewer fund of the city on not less than a monthly basis. Refuse charges, to the extent that the city council authorizes the imposition of such fees, shall similarly be accounted for and remitted to the comptroller for deposit into the refuse fund of the city on not less than a monthly basis. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-060 Accounting of receipts and expenditures.
It shall be the duty of the superintendent to cause the receipts and expenditures of the department to be kept in books of account in such manner as to show the same with entire accuracy and so that the same may be readily understood and investigated. The superintendent shall also preserve on file in the department duplicate vouchers of all of the expenditures of the department. Such books and records shall at all times be open to the inspection of the city comptroller, the mayor and any member of the city council. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-070 Report of monies received.
The superintendent shall, once in each day, report to the city comptroller all monies received by him and pay over such monies for deposit into the water fund of the city. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-080 Alteration of accounts prohibited—Exceptions.
No account in any book of the water department shall be altered in any manner either by increasing or decreasing the amount assessed, except at the direction of the superintendent, and then only upon a written report made by a person authorized to make such a report or read the meter regarding any such adjustment of accounts. The superintendent shall maintain a written record of any such adjustment made to any water account. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-090 Duty to render bills—Billing disputes.
It is the duty of the superintendent to render bills promptly for water, sewer and refuse charges as are authorized to the users of the system. Any person disputing the accuracy of any such charges shall be entitled to file written notice of such dispute on a form provided by the superintendent. After the filing of such written notice by any customer, the superintendent shall have the authority to investigate the complaint, provide an opportunity for the customer to present further information supporting the dispute and to resolve any such disputes. The superintendent shall be further authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing the resolution of billing disputes, which shall become effective upon approval by the city council. After approval by the city council of such rules and regulations, the superintendent shall maintain them as public records of the city in the water department and make them available to customers in the same manner as other public documents of the city. The superintendent is further authorized to notify customers of their right to dispute bills in accordance with the rules and regulations developed. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-100 Classification of accounts.
The accounts of the water department with regard to the collection of water, sewer and refuse charges and expenditures from the water fund shall be kept in accordance with the standard classification of accounts established by the city comptroller and the water department shall be required to keep its records in the form required by the city comptroller. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-110 Reserve established for capital improvement program.
The superintendent is authorized to establish a fund for capital improvements to the water and sewer system and to accumulate revenues in such fund to provide for improvements to the water and sewer system as may be required. Funds for a capital improvement program may be accumulated from year to year to the extent that they are not needed for current operating costs. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-120 Superintendent to develop capital improvement plan.
The superintendent shall recommend to the mayor and the chief administrative officer a five year plan for capital improvements to the system. Once developed, said plan shall be updated annually in order to evaluate progress toward the goals outlined in the plan. The capital improvement plan, once completed, shall be provided to the city council and shall be a public record of the city. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-130 Authority to enter into intergovernmental agreements for the provision of water service.
The superintendent shall have the authority to recommend to the mayor for approval by the city council intergovernmental agreements for the provision of water service. All such intergovernmental agreements shall be approved by the city council and shall not exceed a period of ten years. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-140 Purchasing procedures.
The water department shall be subject to standard purchasing procedures in use by other city departments and shall be required to comply with the provisions of this code relating to purchasing of material or supplies. The department may also advertise for requirements contracts to provide for standard purchases. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-150 Capital improvements to system.
Capital improvements to the system which exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) shall be constructed in accordance with public bidding requirements set forth in this code. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)
2-44-160 Penalties for bad checks.
In addition to any handling charge for a dishonored check authorized by this code, the superintendent of water may also require that the customer responsible for such account pay to the water department a deposit equivalent to the average of the previous two months water bills to guarantee future account payments. The water department is further prohibited from accepting payments by personal check from any customer whose check is returned from the bank for a period of one year. Account payments from such customers must be in cash, money order or certified check. (Ord. 2910 § 1 (part), 1995)