§ 19-181. Customer deposits.

(a)

Establishment of credit. Before rendering water or wastewater service, the county may require an applicant for service to satisfactory establish credit, but such establishment of credit shall not relieve the customer from complying with the county's rules for prompt payment. Credit will be deemed so established if:

(1)

The applicant for service furnishes a satisfactory guarantor to secure payment of bills for service requested;

(2)

The applicant pays a cash deposit;

(3)

The applicant for service furnishes an irrevocable letter of credit from a bank or a surety bond;

(4)

The applicant for service furnishes a letter from another public utility stating applicant has two (2) years of good account history as defined below:

a.

No late charges;

b.

No uncollected items;

c.

No returned checks;

d.

No returned bank drafts.

(5)

Customer requests the county to run a credit review at the applicable fee as set forth in a separate resolution.

Any such deposit received by the county shall be held in a non-interest bearing account. If deposits are held by the utility department, they shall not be refunded until a good account history is established or the account is terminated. If the account is terminated, any and all outstanding charges for water and wastewater service against the account for which it is deposited shall be paid. The deposits required under this section shall be applied against the final bill prepared for termination of the account. If the deposit exceeds the final bill, the balance of the deposit shall be refunded.

(b)

Amount of deposit. The amount of initial deposit shall be as determined by resolution according to customer class and meter size. Deposits for meter sizes exceeding two (2) inches shall be determined on a case by case basis by the county.

(c)

Additional deposit. The county may require a new deposit, where previously waived or returned, or an additional deposit in order to secure payment of current bills provided. The county shall provide the customer with reasonable written notice of not less than thirty (30) days where such request or notice is separate and apart from any bill for service. The total amount of the required water deposit shall not exceed an amount equal to the average actual charge of water service for two (2) monthly billing periods for the twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of notice. The total amount of the required wastewater deposit shall not exceed an amount equal to the average actual charge for wastewater service for two (2) monthly billing periods for the twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of notice. In the event the customer has had service less than twelve (12) months, the county shall base its new or additional deposit upon the average actual monthly billing available.

(d)

Refund of deposit. The utility department will, at the end of twelve (12) months of good account history, refund as a credit to the customer's account the deposit amount paid. Good account history is defined as:

(1)

No late charges;

(2)

No uncollectible items;

(3)

No returned checks;

(4)

No returned bank drafts.

(Ord. No. 04-4, § 8, 3-2-2004; Ord. No. 09-05, § 2, 3-11-2009)