Chapter 13.80
SANITARY SEWER USE CHARGES
Sections:
13.80.010 Sanitary sewer user charges.
13.80.020 Sanitary sewer rates established.
13.80.030 Sanitary sewer review and revision of rates.
13.80.010 Sanitary sewer user charges.
There is levied and assessed upon each lot, parcel of land, building or premises having a connection with the wastewater system a wastewater treatment service charge. There shall be established classes of users such that all members of a class discharge approximately the same volume of wastewater per residence, facility or other appropriate unit. There shall be assigned to each user’s class a number of equivalent residential units (ERUs) for each approximate unit, and this number of ERUs shall represent the ratio of the costs incurred by the wastes from the unit to the costs incurred by the wastes from the average single-family residence. [Ord. 1449 § 1 (Exh. A), 2013; Ord. 680 § 401, 1981.]
13.80.020 Sanitary sewer rates established.
Effective January 1, 1999, sanitary sewer rates and charges shall be established by resolution of the Leavenworth city council from time to time and such rates shall be on file at the office of the city clerk-treasurer. [Ord. 1449 § 1 (Exh. A), 2013; Ord. 1105 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1069 § 1, 1997; Ord. 1047 § 1, 1997; Ord. 1021 § 1, 1996; Ord. 925 § 1, 1993; Ord. 818 § 1, 1988; Ord. 700 § 1, 1981; Ord. 680 § 402, 1981.]
13.80.030 Sanitary sewer review and revision of rates.
The sanitary sewer user charges established in LMC 13.80.010 and 13.80.020 shall, at a minimum, be reviewed annually and revised periodically to reflect actual costs of operation, maintenance, replacement and financing of the treatment works and to maintain the equability of the user charges with respect to proportional distribution of the costs of operation and maintenance in proportion to each user’s contribution to the total wastewater loading of the treatment works. [Ord. 1449 § 1 (Exh. A), 2013; Ord. 680 § 501, 1981.]
13.80.040 Billing period.
Sewer user charges shall be billed separately from the water bill and on a monthly basis. [Ord. 1449 § 1 (Exh. A), 2013; Ord. 680 § 600, 1981.]
13.80.050 Payments.
Bills are due and payable on the tenth day of each month. Accounts which are unpaid after the twentieth of the month are deemed past due, and subject to a late fee as set by resolution of the city council. [Ord. 1449 § 1 (Exh. A), 2013; Ord. 680 § 601, 1981.]
13.80.060 Penalties.
A. Such surcharges levied in accordance with Chapters 13.72 through 13.96 LMC shall be a debt due to the city and shall be a lien upon the property. If this debt is not paid within 30 days after it shall be due and payable, it shall be deemed delinquent and may be recovered by civil action in the name of the city against the property owner, the person or both, together with costs and a reasonable attorney fee.
B. In the event of failure to pay sewer user charges after they become delinquent, the city shall have the right to remove or close sewer connections and enter upon the property for accomplishing such purpose.
C. The expense of such removal or closing, as well as the expense of restoring service, shall likewise be a debt to the city and a lien upon the property and may be recovered by civil action in the name of the city against the property owner, the person or both.
D. Sewer service shall not be restored until all charges, including the expense of removal, closing and restoration, shall have been paid.
E. Change of ownership or occupancy of premises found delinquent shall not be cause for reducing or eliminating these penalties. [Ord. 1449 § 1 (Exh. A), 2013; Ord. 680 § 602, 1981.]