§ 46-56. Deposits required.

(a)

Residential. There shall be no utility deposit for city services for customers who are the owners of the property served when the customers actually physically occupy such property or when the owners of the property are residents of the city and they own the property in which they reside and the owner is paying for all of the utilities for the property served. Along with the application for utility service, the nonowner or nonresident applicant therefor shall be required to pay the city a deposit, such deposit to be the higher of an amount as currently established or as hereafter adopted by resolution of the city council or an amount equal to two months of the customer's bill based upon an average bill for the customer; however, if such service increases to a point where such deposit is not equal to the charges for an average two-month period, the required deposit may be increased to conform thereto. Any nonowner or nonresident applicant who has placed a residential utility deposit with the city may receive a return of such deposit after such customer has established a five-year good pay record with the city. The utility deposit will be refunded upon the written request of the person making the initial deposit.

(b)

Commercial. The utility deposit for commercial services for commercial customers shall be the higher of an amount as currently established or as hereafter adopted by resolution of the city council or an amount equal to two months of the customer's bill based upon an average bill for the customer. All commercial customers' utility bills shall be reviewed annually in January of each year to determine whether or not the deposit is equal to at least an average of two months' bills for the customer.

(1)

Commercial customers who had a five-year good pay record on the effective date of the ordinance form which this section is derived or who shall later establish a five-year good pay record shall then be exempt from the deposit requirements of this subsection (b). Any commercial customer who becomes delinquent more than ten days twice in any 12-month period shall be required to meet the deposit requirements of this subsection (b).

(2)

The requirement of a utility deposit for commercial customers shall apply to all commercial customers within the city.

(c)

Building contractors' deposit. The deposit required of building contractors shall be as currently established or as hereafter adopted by resolution of the city council.

(d)

Fire hydrant meter deposit. The deposit required for each fire hydrant meter shall be as currently established or as hereafter adopted by resolution of the city council.

(Code 1978, § 24-35; Code 1993, § 82-48; Ord. No. 88-12, 12-19-1988)