Ordinance 618: Sewer Rates

The ordinance below is continuing the annual 2% increase to the sewer rates. This is done every 5 years but we had a halt in increase during the COVID year.

ORDINANCE NO. 618

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE

CITY OF CLARION, IOWA, 2009, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 99: SEWER SERVICE CHARGES

BE IT ENACTED by the City Council of the City of Clarion, Iowa:

SECTION 1. SECTION MODIFIED. Chapter 99: Sewer Service Charges of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Clarion, Iowa, 2009, more specifically Section 99.01, is hereby repealed in part and the following adopted in lieu thereof:

99.01 SEWER SERVICE CHARGES REQUIRED. Every customer shall pay to the City sewer service fees as hereinafter provided.

(Code of Iowa. Sec. 384.84)

1. Each customer shall pay sewer service fees, beginning on April 15th of each year, in accordance with the following:

2023: $18.30 per month, plus $10.32 per 1,000 gallons

2024: $18.67 per month, plus $10.53 per 1,000 gallons

2025: $19.04 per month, plus $10.74 per 1,000 gallons

2026: $19.42 per month, plus $10.95 per 1,000 gallons

2027: $19.81 per month, plus $11.17 per 1,000 gallons

2. In the event an existing industry or new industry projects the employment of at least 20 additional persons over a two-year period and capital expenditures of $500,000.00 in said same two-year period for building and/or machinery and equipment purchases, and agrees not to ever drill a private fresh water well within the City corporate limits, then the City may grant an economic development incentive water user rebate which would be a percentage of the standard rate as follows:

1st year: 50%

2nd year: 50%

3rd year: 50%

4th year: 20%

5th year: 10%

After the fifth year no rebate shall apply. If employment projections are not met within said two-year period, then said industry shall, upon notice by the City, repay said rebate amounts.

3. Sewer service to any customer for a structure containing more than one dwelling unit, as defined by the Clarion Zoning Ordinance, shall be subject to a minimum monthly charge based on the multiplication of the current base rate times a number which is 80 percent of the number of dwelling units in the structure.

4. Beginning in 2028, the monthly per-gallon rate set out in Subsection 1 of this section shall be increased by two percent (2%) annually.

5. Industrial Flow Meter. If an industrial user has a consumptive use of water, or in some other manner uses water which is not discharged into the City’s wastewater collection system, the City may allow the user to purchase an effluent flow meter from the City. The installation and maintenance of the flow meter shall be at the user’s expense and subject to City acceptance. The user charge (sewer service fees) will be based on readings of the effluent flow meter. The economic development incentive set out in Section 99.02(2) shall not apply to the user charge through the effluent flow meter.

SECTION 2. REPEALER. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. If any section, provision or part of this ordinance shall be adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, 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 4. WHEN EFFECTIVE. This ordinance shall be in effect after its final passage, approval and publication as provided by law.

Passed and adopted this __________ day of ____________, 2023, and approved this __________ day of ____________, 2023.