Chapter 13.20
RATES AND CHARGES
Sections:
13.20.010 Sewer service – Connection – Application.
13.20.030 Delinquent accounts – Late charges.
13.20.050 Temporary service interruptions, intermittent service and extended service interruption.
13.20.060 City council may alter rates.
13.20.070 Charges to be lien upon property – Foreclosure.
Prior legislation: Ords. 1562 NS and 1566 NS.
13.20.010 Sewer service – Connection – Application.
All persons or property owners wishing to connect to the city of Colville sewer system must first contact the city of Colville water department to initiate the preapproval application process. Once the size, location and means of connection are agreed upon, the preapproval application will be formalized and signed by the municipal services administrator. The signed preapproval application for sewer services shall then be paid in full to the city of Colville treasurer’s department.
No connection shall be scheduled or made until such time the city of Colville water department receives the preapproval application stamped “paid in full” by the city of Colville treasurer’s department. (Ord. 1491 NS § 1, 2012; prior code § 6.08.010).
13.20.020 Rates and charges.
A. Monthly Base Rate. The monthly sewer service rates shall be set at the following amount, which includes the six percent utility tax:
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1. Single-Family Residence |
$77.41 |
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2. Multi-Unit Residence |
$61.01 |
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3. Commercial |
$65.26 Commercial sewer rates are $65.26 per unit plus $9.53 per 1,000 based on water consumption. |
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4. Certain Commercial Units |
See definition below. |
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5. Combination Accounts |
See definition below. |
B. Definitions.
1. Single Residential Unit. A “single residential unit” is defined as one residential living quarters served by one water meter and discharging to the sanitary sewer system.
All single residential units will be billed at the base monthly rate for one as stated above.
2. Multi-Unit Residential. A “multi-unit residential” is defined as a building having two or more dwelling units served by one water meter and discharging to the sanitary sewer system. This includes apartments, assisted living facilities and mobile home parks.
All multi-unit residential, per unit, will be billed at the base monthly rate for each unit as stated above.
3. Commercial Units. A “commercial unit” is defined as all other units not containing residential living quarters served by one water meter. This includes firms, businesses, corporations, hotels, motels and industrial water consumption users. All commercial, per unit, will be billed at the base monthly rate for each unit as stated above. All commercial units that receive water and discharge to the city’s sanitary sewer system will receive a sewer base rate as stated per ordinance.
4. Certain Commercial Units. A reduction of 10 percent will be applied to the sewer usage charge which is calculated based on the monthly water consumption for commercial laundromats and car washes.
5. Combination Accounts. Where more than one usage exists, such as combination of residential/multifamily and commercial, within the commercial 2 and commercial 3 zones, the city treasurer will calculate a combination rate as necessary. See the zoning map located at the office of building and planning.
C. Definition. “Winter water use period” is defined as the period November through April.
D. Taxes. Any state and/or city utility tax charges shall be included in the charges as set forth above. (Ord. 1698 NS § 1, 2022; Ord. 1491 NS § 1, 2012).
13.20.030 Delinquent accounts – Late charges.
A. All utility bills shall be due immediately upon billing and be delinquent if not paid in full on or before the fifteenth day following the month in which services were rendered.
B. Utility bills are mailed by the last working day of each month for which the services were rendered and are due on or before the fifteenth day of the following month and will be declared delinquent if payment is not received in the city treasurer’s office by 3:00 p.m. on that day. A $5.00 per month late charge will be added to all past due accounts with balances over $5.00.
C. If the utility account has an unpaid balance 30 days past the due date, a shut-off notice will be mailed on the thirty-first day stating services will be terminated in seven calendar days. If a utility account is a rental and the bill is addressed to the landlord only, and the city has not been notified of the tenant’s name and mailing address, a shut-off notice will be attached to the front door of the residence stating water/sewer services will be terminated for nonpay in seven calendar days from date posted on the door.
Before water/sewer service will be reinstated, the account holder must pay the full amount in utility charges in arrears and all assessments before service is restored to the premises.
Whenever a water/sewer service is in the name of a renter, tenant or lessee, and is subject to turnoff for delinquency, the utility billing department shall send a duplicate notice of delinquency to the owner of record.
Failure to receive mail will not be recognized as a valid reason for failure to pay rates when due.
If a multiple residential rental unit has an unpaid balance of 30 days past the due date, a shut-off notice will be mailed to the owner and individual notices of the shut off will be attached to the front door of each unit stating water/sewer services will be terminated for nonpay in seven calendar days from date posted on doors.
If the landlord fails to pay for water/sewer services, any tenant who requests that the services be placed in his/her name may deduct from their rent due all reasonable charges paid by the tenant to the city for such services. See RCW 59.18.240.
D. In case of nonpayment of fees and charges for water/sewer within seven days after the date such fees and charges become delinquent and after compliance with the city’s notice procedures, the water/sewer services shall be shut off. A one-time charge of $50.00 shall be added to cover administrative, clerical and other employee or employee-related expenses. The water/sewer service shall remain shut off until the account is paid in full.
E. Reconnect a Utility Service That Has Been Disconnected for Nonpayment. When a utility service has been disconnected for nonpayment the payments must be received before 2:30 p.m. for same-day reconnections, and must include all of the charges stated in subsection (C) of this section.
There will be an additional fee of $100.00 for any same-day connections on payments received after 2:30 p.m.
There will be no reconnections for nonpay utility accounts over a weekend or holiday.
F. Water Shut-Off Notice – Appeal Process. Refer to CMC 13.04.120(F). (Ord. 1491 NS § 1, 2012. Formerly 13.20.026).
13.20.040 Person billed.
The utilities shall stay in the property owner’s name, and the city shall bill the owner of the served property for the payment of utility rates and charges specified in this title; however, the owner may have the bills mailed in care of a tenant, or agent with a signed utility update form, but this shall not relieve the owner from liability for utility rates and charges. When a utility account is in a tenant’s name, the owner or the owner’s designee shall notify the city in writing within 14 days of the termination of the rental agreement and vacation of the premises. (Ord. 1491 NS § 1, 2012. Formerly 13.20.027).
13.20.050 Temporary service interruptions, intermittent service and extended service interruption.
Refer to CMC 13.04.180. (Ord. 1631 NS § 1, 2018; Ord. 1491 NS § 1, 2012. Formerly 13.20.029).
13.20.060 City council may alter rates.
The city council shall have the right and authority to provide by a later ordinance for subsequent alterations of rates as fixed by this chapter. (Ord. 1491 NS § 1, 2012; prior code § 6.08.030. Formerly 13.20.030).
13.20.070 Charges to be lien upon property – Foreclosure.
A. All charges for connections and for sewerage service provided for in this chapter, together with penalties and interest thereon, shall be a lien upon the property with which such connection is made for sewerage service rendered respectively, superior to all other liens and encumbrances whatsoever except for general taxes and local special assessments.
B. The city treasurer is authorized and directed prior to the expiration of six months from the first day of the first month for which such charges were unpaid to certify to the county auditor all of such charges as a lien upon such property in the manner provided for in Chapter 193 of the Session Laws of Washington of 1941 (RCW 35.67.200 through 35.67.260) and such property shall be subject to foreclosure pursuant to the terms of the chapter.
C. As an additional and concurrent method of enforcement of the lien of the city for sewer services, charges and penalty, the city may, after delinquency, shut off the water/sewer services to the premises. Service shall not be restored until the delinquent bill, service charge, penalty thereon, and the reconnection fee specified in CMC 13.20.030(D) shall have been paid in full. (Ord. 1491 NS § 1, 2012; prior code §§ 6.08.040, 6.08.050. Formerly 13.20.040 and 13.20.050).