921 Sewer Bill AdjustmentCITY OF YELM
ORDINANCE NO. 921
AN ORDINANCE adding a section to Yelm Municipal Code Title 13,
Section 08, Sewer System, Adjustment of Sewer Bill.
WHEREAS, the City desires the City Administrator to be empowered to resolve sewer billing
disputes; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to establish a procedure for resolving said billing disputes; and
WHEREAS, the City, when appropriate, desires to empower the City Administrator to make
adjustments to a City's sewer customer account.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YELM, WASHINGTON, DO
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Administrator, or her designee, is empowered to resolve billing disputes
upon receipt of request to do so from a City sewer utility customer. Upon receipt
of such notice from the customer, the City Administrator, or her designee, shall
review the bill with the customer to see if the amount is justly owed. The
customer shall have the right to have a meeting to bring forth reasons and
evidence why such bill should not be due and owing.
Section 2. When any customer in any given billing period has used, according to the
customer's water meter or metered sewer effluent, a quantity of water or effluent
which is more than double the average amount of water used or effluent
discharged on such premises in similar billing periods in prior years, and the
water consumption or effluent is solely caused by a broken water pipe on the
user's premises, the customer may make an application to the treasurer in writing
for a reduction of the billing.
A. If the application states a broken pipe on a customer's premises
caused a large consumption or large discharge of effluent, the existence of a
broken pipe shall be verified by inspection by Public Works employees. If it is
established by presenting acceptable documentation demonstrating to the City that
such broken pipe has been repaired, a reduction of the sewer utility bill to an
amount that is the average of the prior four months plus one-half of the difference
between the average and existing disputed bill.
B. The reduction provided for in this section shall not be allowed if
such excess effluent discharge is due to the customer's neglect or failure to repair
the broken pipe. A reduction in billing shall not be permitted if such excess
discharge is due simply to leaky faucets or other plumbing fixtures releasing
waste water through the system.
C. This section only applies to those customers other than flat rate
sewer customers.
D. In newly developed property, which does not have a prior service
record, the appropriate sewer utility charge will be based upon the charges for a
similar type of sewer service and occupancy for the preceding year.
E. The application by the customer shall be on the forms provided by
the City.
PASSED by the Council of the City of Yelm, Washington at its regular meeting
on the 8th day of June 2010.
nine Schnepf, City erk
Published: Nisqually Valley News: June 18, 2010
Effective date: June 23, 2010
Authenticated: