There is hereby levied on all firms, persons, corporations, organizations, political units and political subdivisions and all other entities and persons with premises in the corporate limits of the city as presently defined or hereafter altered or amended, and now or hereafter connected with the sewer system of the city, sewage service changes as herein provided.  Any building within the City limits which is occupied either full or part time must be connected to the city sewer system, if a city connection is available on the property

(Ord. 77-12-20; Ord. 226-2015)

Effective August 2019, sewer rates charged by the city shall be as follows:

(a)   Unless otherwise provided herein, sewer rates charged by the city for customers shall be $20.00 per month for each sewer service.

(b)   Special use customer rates:

(1)   SG County Area Educ. Services II Coop. #618     $125.00 per month

(2)   Mount Hope Nursing Home                                 $375.00 per month

(3)   Larson Apartments #1                                         $305.00 per month

(4)   Larson Apartments #2                                         $193.00 per month

(b)   In the event that any property owner desires to have sewer service suspended he, she or it may do so under the conditions herein contained by notifying the city clerk in writing of such desire.  Upon inspection by an authorized agent of the city and a determination made that the building is not being occupied, and that the service has not be used for a period of at least seven days, following receipt of the written request and subsequent approval by the governing body, the service charge for the month following shall be discontinued. In no event shall the owner of any building request such suspension of the sewer service charge and discontinuance of service unless such service is in fact not being used.

(c)   Such sewer charges shall be assessed to the parties liable therefor on a monthly basis along with the other utility service charges assessed by the city.  Such sewer charges will be for such entities within the city limit.

(Ord. 77-12-20, Sec. 2; Ord. 7-1995; Ord. 228-2016; Ord. 252-2019)

It shall be unlawful to connect to the sewage system or begin use of the sewage system in a unit, building, structure or establishment to which the sewer service charge has been suspended, without first having obtained written approval from the city clerk.  It shall also be unlawful to discharge any deleterious materials or objects which are not liquefiable in the normal operation of utility.  Any person who shall be convicted in the municipal court of the city of violating any of the provisions of section 15-403 of this article shall be deemed guilty of a code violation and shall be fined not more than $500.  Each day the violation continues shall be considered a separate offense and shall be punishable as a separate violation hereof.  If any person or entity is found guilty of violating section 15-403, and it shall appear to the court that the violation of this article is a continuing one, the court may cause the violation to be abated and the appropriate orders issued accordingly.

(Ord. 77-12-20, Sec. 4)

There is hereby established a combined waterworks and sewage disposal system pursuant to the statutes made and provided and therefore.  A water and sewage department is hereby established and the city council following such general election shall appoint officers and employees as may be necessary for the proper operation of the water and sewage system.

(Ord. 77-12-20, Sec. 5)

Sewer and water service charges shall be due and payable at the office of the city clerk on the 20th day of each month.  Such charges shall be delinquent if not paid by the 10th day of the month following the due date.  A late charge in the amount of one percent of the delinquent monthly bill shall be added to the delinquent bill and the city clerk shall forward a five day written notice to the last known address of the property owner, renter or lessee and if the charges and late charge are not paid within the period of time the water and sewer service shall be promptly disconnected by the city.  In the event of the discontinuance of service the owner, renter or lessee may be charged a standard reconnection charge as established by the governing body of the city.  The cost of such abatement and any delinquent service fee may be taxed against the property serviced thereby at the same time other city taxes are certified to the county clerk for application to the tax rolls, or in lieu thereof the city may deduct such delinquent charges and penalties from any deposit for utilities required to be paid from time to time by the governing body of the city.

(Ord. 77-12-20, Sec. 6; Ord. 89-5-2, Sec. 2; Code 1994)

There is hereby established a sewer system reserve fund for the city.  The fund is hereby established for the future maintenance and operation of the sewage system of the city and for the construction of improvements an expansion to such system.  The governing body of the city may transfer funds periodically to such reserve pursuant to the statutes made and provided therefor.  Such funds shall not be subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 79-2925 to 79-2937, inclusive, and any acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto.

The governing body of the city shall have the power to adopt further rules and regulations providing for the management and operation of the sewer and water system, prohibiting the discharge of deleterious matter into the sewage system, requiring pretreatment of sewage in unusual cases to prevent overloading of the treatment plant and providing for the disposition of revenue from the collection of the service charges; requiring deposits for sewer and water service and such other rules and regulations as are necessary for the management and operation of its sewage and water system.

(Ord. 77-12-20, Sec. 8)

There is hereby established a sewer connection fee on all new sewer connections for sewer service by the city.  The sewer connection fee is $500 and is payable on or before the issuance of a building permit by the city clerk.  This fee is in addition to the sewer inspection fee set by the city council.  All sewer connections must be inspected by the city superintendent prior to completion.  The sewer connection fee shall be deposited in the sewer utility fund of the city.

(Ord. 62-2000, Sec. 1)