§ 28-187. Same—Guarantee of payment of charges; refunds; review of deposit amounts.

Deposits made under this division shall be and constitute a guarantee to the city that all sums of money due by virtue of the furnishing of water or sewer or garbage and trash disposal services to the person making such deposit guarantee are paid. Refunds of deposits made shall be made under the following circumstances:

(a)

Upon the payment of all sums for service provided, the city shall, upon discontinuation of services, refund and return to the person making a deposit the amount of the deposit or the net amount thereof after deducting such sums as may be due to the city.

(b)

For residential accounts in the name of the property owner, the deposit shall be applied to the customer's account after twelve (12) consecutive months of timely payments.

(c)

For residential accounts not in the name of the property owner, the deposit shall be applied to the customer's account after twenty-four (24) consecutive months of timely payments.

(d)

For all other accounts, the deposit shall be retained until the account is finaled [finalized] and closed out.

(e)

An annual review of deposits for all accounts other than residential shall be made. Any deposits which are greater than twenty-five (25) percent different than the average indicated for three (3) monthly bills based upon the preceding twelve (12) months actual bills will be adjusted, either higher or lower, to the amount necessary to guarantee three (3) months of normal service.

(f)

Nothing contained in this section shall apply to accounts receiving service on April 1, 1997 providing they remain in good standing and service is not discontinued due to reason of non-payment of utility service charges.

(g)

When a property owner having his primary residential service(s) in his name purchases a new property within the city's utility service area and establishes his primary residential service(s) at his new property, no additional deposit shall be required. Any existing deposit on hand will be transferred to his new account along with any account balances remaining from his previous service(s).

(Code 1953, § 45-10; Ord. No. C-77-92, § 1, 7-19-77; Ord. No. C-97-9, § 8, 3-18-97)