§ 114-72. Water meters; city meter reader.

(a)

All premises using the city water supply must be equipped with an adequate water meter furnished by the city but paid for by the consumer, provided that such water service may be supplied by the city at a flat rate of charge until such meter can be installed. Before any premises is occupied a water meter shall be installed or an application shall be made for water service at a flat rate of charge until the meter can be installed.

(b)

Water meters shall be installed in a location that will be easily accessible.

(c)

The city clerk shall read or cause to be read every water meter used in the city at such times as are necessary so that the bills may be accurately determined and sent to the customers in accordance with the following:

(1)

The city clerk and/or those persons the clerk hires or appoints to read meters (referred to as "city meter reader") shall attempt to obtain access to all residences, buildings or structures of customers where water meters are located for purposes of reading the water meters.

(2)

If a city meter reader is denied access to any building or structure to read a meter or if the customer or other persons occupying the residence, building or structure are not present to permit access, the city clerk shall send a letter by United States mail to the customer demanding that the customer contact the city clerk within ten days of the date of the letter to set an appointment for the city meter reader to read the water meter within 20 days of the date of the letter.

(3)

If the customer fails to contact the city clerk to set an appointment within ten days of the demand to read the water meter or fails to provide access to the city meter reader at an agreed appointment time, the city clerk, or any person at the direction of the city clerk, shall shut off water service to the customer. Water service to the customer shall not be reinstated until the city meter reader is permitted access to the residence, building or structure to read the water meter, all bills owed by the customer are paid in full, and the customer pays the established reconnect fee to the city.

(d)

From and after October 1, 2009, all premises, except those presently equipped with an outside meter reading device, using the city water supply must be further equipped with an outside radio frequency meter reading device to be furnished by the city but paid for by the customer. The cost to the customer for the outside radio frequency meter reading device shall be $25.00 if requested by the customer on or before September 30, 2009. From and after October 1, 2009, the cost to the customer for the outside radio frequency meter reading device shall be the actual cost of the device charged to the city. Additionally, each customer without an outside read capability device shall be charged an additional $3.00 per month for water service until such device is installed; provided, however, there shall be no additional monthly charge after the device is ordered by the customer from city and the only reason for noninstallation is because the city has not yet installed such device with no delays or interruptions by the customer.

(Code 1996, § 50.016; Ord. No. 4631, § 1, 8-17-2009)