Chapter 13.45
FEES
Sections:
13.45.010 Establishment – Billing procedures.
13.45.020 Power acquisition cost defined.
13.45.030 Due date for monthly utility charges – Delinquent accounts – Reconnection fees.
13.45.040 Inspection fees for electrical, plumbing and gas pipe installations.
13.45.050 Connection fees for electrical system and sewer system – Enumeration.
13.45.060 Connection fees for electrical system and sewer system – When payable generally.
13.45.080 Connection fees for electrical system and sewer system – Sewer connections.
13.45.090 Connection fees for electrical system and sewer system – Issuance of building permit.
13.45.100 After hours call-out and meter tampering fees.
13.45.110 Wastewater rates and fees.
13.45.010 Establishment – Billing procedures.
Charges for utility services provided by the town shall be as set, from time to time, by the town council. A copy of each ordinance establishing such charges shall be maintained on file in the office of the clerk of the town where it shall be available for inspection by the public during the normal office hours.
Billing and collection procedures shall be as established by the town council. [1996 Code § 16-6.]
Editor’s note: Ordinance Nos. 624 (Water Rates), 620 (Electrical Rates), 605 and 625 (Sewer Rates), respectively, which set forth water, electric, and sewerage rates are saved from repeal. These ordinances are on file in the office of the town clerk and are available for public inspection during regular office hours.
13.45.020 Power acquisition cost defined.
(a) Whenever the power acquisition cost to the town is more than 27.5 mills per kilowatt-hour, there shall be corresponding increase per kilowatt-hour for all kilowatt-hours included in billing to the consumer equal to 1.0 mills per kilowatt-hour for each whole mill increase above 27.5 mills in the average cost to the town. Such adjustment, if any, shall be based on the costs in the month preceding the billing month.
(b) The power acquisition cost shall be defined to include all demand and energy charges billed to the town by its wholesale power suppliers, all dues, fees and charges which the town pays related to power acquisition and any debt service incurred in order to ensure future power supplies. [Ord. 556, 1983. 1996 Code § 16-6.1.]
13.45.030 Due date for monthly utility charges – Delinquent accounts – Reconnection fees.
All charges for water, sanitation, sewer and electrical services and all related charges shall be due and payable at the office of the town clerk on the tenth day of each month following use. Any account not paid by the eleventh day of each month shall be deemed delinquent and the town shall have the right to terminate all services until such time as all delinquent accounts are paid in full. In the event of termination of any services the user shall pay a reconnection fee of $10.00 for all utilities except electrical service, which is set by WMC 13.40.070, to the town before any services are resumed. [Ord. 458, 1977. 1996 Code § 16-7.]
13.45.040 Inspection fees for electrical, plumbing and gas pipe installations.
An electrical inspection fee, plumbing inspection fee, and gas pipe inspection fee of $10.00 for each domestic residence and $20.00 for every other type of construction shall be paid to the town at the time a building permit is secured for any construction, remodeling or other activity for which any electrical, plumbing or gas pipe inspection is required. [Ord. 456, 1977. 1996 Code § 16-8.]
13.45.050 Connection fees for electrical system and sewer system – Enumeration.
(a) The following fees shall be paid for each connection of the electrical service system of the town when the connection is for single phase service:
(1) Five hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for each residential service other than a mobile home.
(2) Five hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for the first unit in multiple dwelling units, and the cost of material, equipment, and labor for an additional unit.
(3) Five hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for each residential mobile home when the same is not located in a mobile home park.
(4) Five hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for each residential mobile home located in a mobile home park.
(5) Five hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for any commercial establishment except motels.
(6) Five hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for the first unit of a motel, and the cost of material, equipment and labor for each additional unit.
(7) Five hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for any electrical connection for any other type of usage not otherwise specified herein.
(b) The following fees shall be paid for each connection of the electrical service system of the town when the connection is for three-phase service:
(1) Five hundred dollars, plus an amount equal to the difference in total cost of construction between single-phase electrical service for each connection to the electrical service system of the town for three-phase electrical service.
(c) The following fees shall be paid for each connection to the sewer system of the town:
(1) Three hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for each residential service other than a mobile home.
(2) Three hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for the first unit in multiple dwelling units, and the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for an additional unit.
(3) Three hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for each residential mobile home when the same is not located in a mobile home park.
(4) Three hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for each residential mobile home located in a mobile home park.
(5) Three hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for any commercial establishment except motels.
(6) Three hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for the first unit of a motel, and the cost of material, equipment and labor for each additional unit.
(7) Three hundred dollars, or the cost of material, equipment and labor, whichever is greater, for any sewer connection for any other type of usage not otherwise specified herein. [Ord. 604, 1991. 1996 Code § 16-9.]
13.45.060 Connection fees for electrical system and sewer system – When payable generally.
All fees shall be paid prior to the time any connection is made to the service systems and in the event of new construction where the facilities are not present all fees shall be paid prior to the commencement of any construction of the facilities which will be required to provide the services. [Ord. 436 § 2, 1976. 1996 Code § 16-10.]
13.45.070 Connection fees for electrical system and sewer system – When payable for lots, tracts or other parcels in subdivisions – Exception.
All connection fees for electrical services to be provided for all lots, tracts or other parcels in subdivisions, as the same are defined by the development code, shall be paid prior to the commencement of any construction of the facilities which will be required to provide the service.
In lieu of payment of all electrical service connection fees in advance of any construction a subdivider may provide collateral acceptable to the town council guaranteeing payment of the electrical service connection fees for all lots, tracts or other parcels in the entire subdivision.
The town council shall have the option of demanding payment in full in advance of construction or of accepting a guarantee in lieu thereof. [Ord. 436 § 3, 1976. 1996 Code § 16-11.]
13.45.080 Connection fees for electrical system and sewer system – Sewer connections.
Connections to the sewer service system shall include connections to the primary sewer service system of the town and connections to all feeder lines connected thereto, regardless of ownership of the lines. [Ord. 436 § 4, 1976. 1996 Code § 16-12.]
13.45.090 Connection fees for electrical system and sewer system – Issuance of building permit.
No building permit shall be issued by the building inspector until all fees assessed pursuant to WMC 13.45.050 are fully paid or a guarantee for such payment is approved and accepted by the town council. [Ord. 436 § 5, 1976. 1996 Code § 16-13.]
For state law as to authority of town to provide and regulate electrical power, see WS, 1977, 15-1-103, 15-7-101 and 15-7-201 to 15-7-212.
13.45.100 After hours call-out and meter tampering fees.
(a) Definitions.
(1) “After hours” is any time the Town Hall is not open.
(2) “Call-outs” includes but is not limited to:
a. Water turn-on and water turn-off.
b. Electric turn-on and turn-off.
(3) Meter Tampering. Meter tampering by any person not authorized by the Town includes the following:
a. Opening and closing water meter valves located anywhere.
b. The act of breaking, picking or damaging electric meter locks.
c. The removal, disabling or adjusting of water or electric meters.
(b) Ownership. The town owns the water meters, pit, and electric meters.
(c) Fees. The following fees will be charged for after hours call-outs:
(1) Eighty dollars per call-out for water and sewer.
(2) One hundred dollars per call-out for electric.
(3) The property owner(s) will be responsible for payment of all charges and fees jointly and severally.
(4) Call-outs after hours shall be billed to the property owner(s) unless the call-out was a result of a problem on the town’s side.
(d) Fines. It is illegal for nonauthorized persons to tamper with the town’s meters and meter pits. In the event a nonauthorized person is found guilty of violating this section a fine up to $750.00 can be assessed. In addition, the nonauthorized person will be subject to all costs associated with labor and replacement parts of the damaged meter. [Ord. 822 §§ 1 – 4, 2019.]
13.45.110 Wastewater rates and fees.
Appendix B – Rate Schedule.
Residential users are considered to be one class of user and are assessed a charge of $17.00 per month. Nonresidential users with water usage no greater than the average residential user’s water usage of 6,600 gallons per month and with BOD and TSS no greater than the average residential user’s strength of 200 ppm BOD and 250 ppm TSS will pay $17.00 per month.
Commercial users will pay a total charge equal to their monthly water usage divided by 6,600 multiplied by $11.80, thus nonresidential charges will be based on monthly water meter readings.
Any nonresidential user with BOD and TSS greater than the average residential user’s strength of 200 ppm BOD and 250 ppm TSS will pay a surcharge in accordance with the rates shown on the surcharge rate schedule.
Sewer services outside town limits shall pay one and one-half times the household or commercial rate for sewer users residing within the town limits. [Ord. 852, 2024; Ord. 794, 2016; Ord. 734, 2007; Ord. 733, 2007; Ord. 696, 2003.]