CITY OF ELY

LINN COUNTY, IOWA

 

ORDINANCE #191

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE MUNICIPAL WATER UTITLITY

 

 

SECTION 1.  §6-3-20 Repealed.  Section 6-3-20 of the Ely Code of Ordinances is hereby repealed in its entirety

 

             SECTION 2. §6-3-20 ADOPTED.  The following is hereby adopted as §6-3-20 of the Ely Code of Ordinances: 

 

  1. Water Use Metered. All water furnished to customers, shall be measured through meters the property owner purchases from the city; said water meters shall be installed consistent with Plumbing Code, except for fire sprinkler systems as set out below.

 

2.     Fire Sprinkler Systems; Exception. Fire sprinkler systems may be connected to water mains by direct connection without meters under the direct supervision of the Superintendent and in accordance with the Plumbing Code.  No open connection may be incorporated in the system, and there shall be no valves except a main control valve at the entrance to the building, which must be sealed open.

 

  1. Location of Meters. All meters must be installed near a floor drain and shall be so located that they are easily accessible to meter readers and repair personnel and protected from freezing.

 

  1. Meter Setting. The property owner shall provide all necessary piping and fittings for proper setting of the meter including a valve on the discharge side of the meter. Meter pits may be used only upon approval of the Superintendent and shall be of a design and construction approved by the Superintendent.  Consumers shall not alter a water meter installation or tamper with water meters in any manner.  All new water meter settings shall be installed with a remote reading device of a type approved by the Superintendent and purchased from the city.

 

  1. Meter Costs.

 

a)      Meter Costs. The property owner of a new water account must purchase a meter and remote reading device from the City and pay for its installation.   The type and installation of the meter shall be in accordance with the Superintendent's directives and consistent with the Plumbing Code. The City shall retain ownership of the meter and remote reading device and shall have the right to inspect said meter and remote reader from time to time to insure proper operation of the meter and to check for illegal bypassing of any other meter in the premises.  Customers shall pay the amount shown in§6-5-4 (11) for water meters.

 

b)      Installation Fee. The property owner shall pay a fee as set out in §6-5-4(11) to pay the cost of installing a new remote reading device. 

 

  1. Meter Repairs.  Whenever a water meter owned by the City is found to be out of order the Superintendent shall have it repaired. If it is found that damage to the meter has occurred due to the carelessness or negligence of the customer or property owner, which includes damage from freezing, then the property owner shall be liable for the cost of repairs.

 

  1. Jumper Wire.  All water services must have a jumper wire installed to ground the water service when the water meter is removed for testing or maintenance.  The use of the water service as a primary ground for electrical, telephone, cable TV or other systems is prohibited.  In the event the water system is installed using plastic or PVC pipe materials, neither primary nor secondary grounding is required.

 

8.    Right of Entry. The Superintendent, or the Superintendent’s representative, shall be permitted to enter the premises of any customer at any reasonable time to read, remove, or change a meter.

 

9.    Meter Testing. In case there is doubt on the part of the customer as to the accuracy of a water meter, such customer may have the meter tested by the Water Department, at which test the customer may be present or have a representative present. If the meter is found to register within two percent (2%) of being correct, a charge, set by the City Council through Resolution, will be made to pay for a part of the labor for making such tests. If the meter is found to measure incorrectly more than two percent, no charge shall be made for making the test. If the meter should be found to over-register more than two percent, there shall be a proportional deduction made from the previous water bill. A water meter shall be considered to register satisfactorily when it registers within two percent of accuracy. Customers requesting inspection by City employees of premises because of an excessive water bill may be required to pay a fee, except that if the water meter is at fault, there would be no fee.

 

10. Separate Water Meter.  A separate additional meter may be installed for the purpose of measuring water usage outside a residence or business when such water is not discharged into the public sewer system.  The property owner shall not be liable for water permit fee or water tap fee for any said additional meters. The property owner must purchase the additional meter and remote reading device and pay for its installation.   The installation of the meter shall be accordance with the Superintendent's directives. The City shall retain ownership of the meter and shall have the right to inspect said meter from time to time to insure proper operation of the meter and to check for illegal bypassing of any other meter in the premises. All water measured through the additional meter shall be exempt from sewer service charges. 

 

11. Meter Bypass.  Meters one inch or larger in size shall have a bypass line, with a lockable valve sealed by the Water Department, in order to prevent disruption of the water service when, maintenance or testing is in process.

 

 

SECTION 3.        §6-5-4(8) REPEALED.  Section 6-5-4(8) of the Ely Code of Ordinances is hereby repealed in its entirety

 

           SECTION 4.   §6-5-4(8) ADOPTED.  The following is hereby adopted as §6-5-4(8) of the Ely Code of Ordinances: 

 

8.   Where a meter has ceased to register, or meter reading could not be obtained, the quantity of water consumed for billing purpose will be based upon an average of the prior three (3) months consumption, and the conditions of water service prevailing during the period in which the meter failed to register. 

 

           SECTION 5.   §6-5-4(11) ADOPTED.  The following is hereby adopted as §6-5-4(11) of the Ely Code of Ordinances: 

 

11.        In addition to monthly water rate fees, the following charges shall apply for water customers:

A.    Water Meters.  Standard 5/8” water meters - $120. The customer shall pay the amount of the city’s cost for a water meter of any other size. 

B.    Permit and Tapping Fee - $40.00

C.    Remote Read Device - $9.00

D.    Remote Read Installation Fee - $15.00

 

SECTION 6. REPEALER CLAUSE.  Any ordinance, provision or part thereof, which differs or is inconsistent with this ordinance is hereby repealed, to the extent of said difference or inconsistency.

 

SECTION 7.  SEVERABILITY.  If any section, provision or part of this Ordinance shall be adjudged invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole, or any section, provision or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional

 

SECTION 8.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This ordinance shall be in effect from and after final passage, approval, and posting and publication of this ordinance as required by law. 

 

 

Introduced this 19th day of November 2006, and adopted by the City Council of the City of Ely, Iowa this 19th day of November, 2006.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Dale Stanek, Mayor

 

Attest:

 

 

 

                                                                       

Aaron Anderson, Clerk/Administrator