Connection and Procedure Ordinance  Town ofHamilton Utility  PO Box 249, Hamilton, NC27840  #020521  Section I: Application for Services  from the Hamilton Town Hall and make any deposit that is  A. All users must apply for service  required. B. All new utility  connections and reconnections that occur after a 6: month vacancy oft the  and local codes and ordinances. This shall occur at the  property must comply with the county that is vacant: for 6: months or more is required to be inspected and cleared by the county building inspector. to have back flow preventers installed at D. For safety reasons all water faucets must be at the place of residence at the time in which the  home owner's cost. Any residence  C. Any new water/sewer connections put in are required  the customer's cost.  be turned off when service is connected.  E. Someone at least 18 years or older, must  services are connected, to ensure satisfaction and safety.  period from when the  Initial service connection will be turned on within a 241 hour  a. deposit was placed via appointment made between the resident and maintenance ONLY department. able to ask for services to be disconnected on any account is the person  F. The  person  of who the bill. pays  whose name is on the account, regardless  are the account holder and  G. The only people that have authorization to look at an account those people that are listed on the authorized account person's form. H. In the event of someone's passing any deposit will be remitted to the Estate the  of deceased  Executor of the Estate can be shown, and then will be remitted to that person. of someone whom is deceased the account may remain open as long as it  unless proof of I. To close an account  the  of the estate. Itmay be closed  isc current for a time period of6 6 months during closing to shut off a deceased persons earlier than that at the request of the family. Once al request estate is submitted the account: must be put in someone else's name reopened in the name of the person whom is deceased. If there is a family dispute situation proof of executor of estate must be shown or the account will remain on, unless  and it will not be  with this  unpaid until the 6 month time period has lapsed.  Section II: Security Deposits A. Security Deposits are as listed  below unless otherwise authorized by the Town of] Hamilton Board  Town Limits) Residential Customers  a. $500.00 Security Deposit for (Inside C. $300.00 Security Deposit  b. $450.00 Security Deposit for All Commercial Customers d. $200.00 Hamilton Ridge Security Deposit e. $250.00 Security Deposit for the subsequent properties  For All Outside ofTown Limit Customers  (Electric Connection Only)  owned if more than one  on the  property is owned inside town limits, and the original deposit was placed  primary property.  B. Deposits placed WILLNOT draw interest.  with the town.  C. Letters of credit WILL NOTis accepted to wave security deposits D. Additional Security Deposits may be required after a 12 month time period,  if:  The utilities are disconnected twice within that 12 month time period  a.    b. The deposit placed would not cover 2 times the average utility bill during that 12 month E. When a deposit is placed with the Town ofHamilton, the deposit amounti in full will NOTbe returned to the customer until a time in which the customer closes the account with the' Town of Hamilton. The deposit will be applied to any balance on the account at the time oft the accounts closure, and any remaining balance will be forwarded in the form ofa check to the mailing a. Ify you are moving you MUST indicate the new address to remit the check. If you do not b. The Town of Hamilton is NOT: responsible fora check being forwarded to the incorrect mailing address if not informed that the mailing address has changed. C. The Town of Hamilton will remit these checks during the next payroll cycle after the disconnection date after proof of deposit can be established.  time period.  address on file for the customer.  itwill be sent to the last mailing address on file.  Section III: Billing & Fees  A. Town of Hamilton Utility Bills is ONLY billed for the usage indicated by the resident's meters.  We WILLNOT bill you for any usage that is not indicated by your meter. B. Meter Readings and information regarding meter readings is as follows: a. Meters will be read on or around the 25" ofe each month b. Accounts are billed for the previous month's usage.  i. Example: A bill datedJanuary 5*, 2021 is for the time period 11/25/2020- Bills are printed at the end of the business day on the 5 ofevery month to ensure all  12/25/2020  payments are posted and are reflected on their utility bill. d. These bills will be mailed on approximately the 6 of each month. :. They are due by the 5" oft the following month f. Please refer to the chart below for a detailed explanation:  Example  Bills dated: Meters were read on or around Bills were printed Bills were mailed Bills are due Bills are late  December 5 2020 November 25" December 5h December 6" December 25* January 5-2 2021 January 27 2021  Bills are subject for disconnection  C. Disconnections:  a. Ifutilities are disconnected you will be responsible for paying the reconnection fee listed in b. - Disconnections apply only to the amount past due amount including any late charges that are still on the account 52 days after the original bill date. Please refer to the example chart Utilities will not be reconnected until the account has been paid in full including any fees associated with the disconnection. Service may be restored the same day if payment is made before 12:00pm on that business day. Any payments made for reconnection after 12:00pm will be handled on the next business day between the hours of 8:00-12:00. No  the fee chart below.  above to see example listed.  reconnections will be made on weekends or holidays.    D. Payments:  made in Cash, Check, Money Order, or by Credit or Debit card  a. Payments may be  (Excluding American Express) Payments may be put in the drop box business hours. The drop box is checked once daily. d. Partial Payments will be accepted and applied to your account, Town's policy on Disconnection and does not grant you aj payment PAYMENT EXTENSIONS. ARE ONLY AUTHORIZED BYTHETOWN  b, NOTWO PARTY CHECKS WILL located BEACCEPTED at the front of the building before or after  but DOES NOT alter the extension..  OF  e.  BOARD. Please review the section below to indicate how to request a  HAMILTON Payment extensions year as approved byt the board. g. Budget Billing is offered to any' Town Town ofHamilton for 12 consecutive months. i. Payment is required to be made by the 5 ofthe be disconnected on the 27 of the following  payment extension. will ONLY be authorized a maximum of 2 times during a calendar  of Hamilton customer that has had service with the  month following the signing oft the  budget billing contract. Billing and do not make your payments your services will  ii, Ifyou take part in Budget  month as those who are noti in budget  ii. Ifyou billing. take part in Budget Billing and discontinue your payments and pay 12 your normal bill you are not allowed to participate in the program for another  months.  E. Fees  a. Reconnection Fee: $25.00 b. Returned Check Fee: $35.00  accumulated during that time)  C. Meter Tampering Fee: $100.00 (plus any subsequent usage  F. Billing Disputes:  a meter will be checked at the cost of the Town of Hamilton  a. Atthe customer's request tested and found to be in compliance, the cost of any testing items  : Ift the meter is  oft the customer. Cost will be as listed for the flat rate  will be the sole responsibility  the board on the fee schedule.  as established and amended from time to time by ii. Ift the meter is faulty the bill will be adjusted on the average time frame. Ift this time frame is not applicable it will be averaged  % of the last 12 month for the amount of  time the account has been active. with the resolution of the situation they may puti in a ii. If the customer is still unhappy Hamilton Board in the form ofa Meter Error Form b. Ifthe customer believes their bill was done in error the Town Clerk as well as the Mayor. Ifthe  formal request to the' Town of for formal review and final decision. Error Review Form, which will be reviewed by  the customer must fill out a Billing  resubmit the issue to the This is once any  customer is unhappy with the resolution of the situation they may Town ofHamilton Board for formal review and final decision.  for adiustments 2 times during a calendar year.  Water leaks are eligible addressed.  to the Town of] Hamilton stating the water leak was  receipt or information can be provided    Ifay water leak is detected by aresident oft the town and proof of repair is submitted, the town will make an adjustment to the sewer bill. The town will adjust the bill to the average annual bill amount for that customer. Iti is not to exceed 50% of the sewage billed cost. Any time the effects ofa a leak are on the following months bill it ii. Ifthe water leak can be proven to not drain into the sewer system (ie. a leaking pipe outside the home, under the home, a pipe in the yard from the meter to the home) the sewage cost will be removed in full for that month but the water must be paid ii. Ifan amount in excess ofhalf the sewage is requested to be adjusted the resident may fill out a Sewage Adjustment Excess Form to be submitted to the Board for iv. Property Owners are responsible for the service of their water lines from the point ofthe Town ofHamilton's meter to the house and inside the home. They are not  will also be adjusted for those days.  their approval and final decision.  responsible for a faulty meter or lines that are before the meter.  G. Any issues and concerns involving maintenance may be addressed by submitting a Maintenance Request Form to the Maintenance Supervisor. Ift the resident is concerned or would like their request addressed further they may submit that request form to the Town of Hamilton Board.  H. Forms Listed above available to any' Town of Hamilton Active Account Holder  a. Account Authorization Form b. Sewage Adjustment Form Billing Error Review Form, d. Meter Error Form - Maintenance Request Form  Ifnewi internal controls and billing procedures are adopted from this information it will be amended on February 5, 2021 and will supersede any, prior internal control ordinance. Submitted for review to the Town of Hamilton Board of Commissioners and for public review onJanuary 7+,2021