It shall be the duty of the city council to provide and establish a complete system of accounting for the management, control and operation of the city water department as shall be approved by the state municipal accounting board for municipal utility departments.

(Code 1968, 14-201; Code 1998)

There shall be and is hereby created in the city treasury a fund to be known as the water fund. The city treasurer shall keep the fund separate and distinct from the other funds of the city and shall credit thereto all moneys coming to the city by virtue of the ownership and operation of the water department of the city and shall account for all the revenue credited thereto and payment of all funds therefrom as directed by the city council. All warrants drawn on the city treasurer for payment of any claims properly chargeable to the water fund shall show on their face by stamp or other intelligible mark that they are to be charged to and payable out of the fund.

(Code 1968, 14-202; Code 1998)

The water department shall maintain a system of accounts which shall show all moneys due the city for any water furnished and sold any customer by the department. Such accounts shall be kept in the name of each customer separately and each customer’s account shall show the charges made for water, the Kansas retailer’s sales tax due, other charges and penalties, rebates and all other financial transactions between the city and each customer, except as may be required to be kept by the city clerk, city treasurer, or other officers. The city shall read all water meters keeping a record of such meter readings, and compute therefrom the customer’s monthly bills, showing the amounts due from each customer for water sold and supplied by the city, and he or she shall deliver the same to the city clerk for collection.

(Code 1968, 14-204; Code 1990)

The city clerk shall by virtue of his or her office be the collector for the water department and all such accounts shall be payable at his or her office upon bill rendered therefore by him or her. Upon the payment of any such bill, he or she shall issue a receipt for the same and shall deposit all money received therefrom in the city treasury to the credit of the water fund.

(Code 1968, 14-205)

The city clerk’s office shall be open for the payment of all water bills as aforesaid during the usual business hours except any day observed as a holiday in the city or as otherwise directed by the city council.

(Code 1968, 14-207; Code 1990)

All claims and accounts against the city by reason of the operation of the water department shall be filed with the city clerk. It shall be his or her duty to examine in detail all such bills, accounts and claims against the city and shall present the same to the council at its next regular meeting for allowance. Upon allowance of any such bill or claim by the city council, the same shall be paid in the regular way as provided by law.

(Code 1968, 14-208)

(a)   The following rates shall be charged for water sold by the City to regular customers receiving water service therefrom; said water shall be sold on meter basis and bills therefore rendered monthly:

(1)   3/4” - 5/8” meter: a minimum monthly charge of $12.12 shall be charged and, in addition thereto, a charge of $4.65 per 1,000 gallons of water in the base tier.

(2)   1” meter: a minimum monthly charge of $18.23 shall be charged and, in addition thereto, a charge of $4.65 per 1,000 gallons of water in the base tier.

(3)   1 ½” - 2” meter: a minimum monthly charge of $29.56 shall be charged and, in addition thereto, a charge of $4.65 per 1,000 gallons of water in the base tier.

(4)   Greater than 2” meter: a minimum monthly charge of $47.01 shall be charged and, in addition thereto, a charge of $4.65 per 1,000 gallons of water in the base tier.

(5)   For purposes of this section the “base tier” shall be the monthly average of the amount of gallons of water used during the three month period of time from the date the meter is read in December to the date the meter is read in March of the following year. The rate shall then be computed and adjusted on the user’s April billing statement in that year and shall be effective for the period of time from April 1st of each year until March 31st of the following year.

(b)   The rate of $9.30 per 1,000 gallons of water in the conservation tier in addition to the minimum monthly and base tier charges shall be charged for water sold by the City to regular customers receiving water service therefrom in excess of the base tier during stage 2 (Water Warning) of the water conservation plan only. Said water shall be sold on meter basis and bills therefore rendered monthly.

(c)   The rate of $13.95 per 1,000 gallons of water in the conservation tier in addition to the minimum monthly and base tier charges shall be charged for water sold by the City to regular customers receiving water service therefrom in excess of the base tier during stage 3 (Water Emergency) of the water conservation plan only. Said water shall be sold on meter basis and bills therefore rendered monthly.

(d)   The City reserves the right to establish, by contract or formal City Council action, varied rates for customers deemed unique by the City.

(Ord. 1254; Code 2007; Ord. 1347; Ord. 1356; Ord. 1386; Code 2022)

(a)   All Utility Service Charges shall increase on November 1st of each year, beginning on November 1, 2017. This Automatic Annual Increase shall apply to Water Service Charges, including the base rate, water usage charges, tap fees, and other service fees; Sewer Service Charges, including the base rate, water usage charges, tap fees, and other service fees; and Sanitation Service Charges, including the base rates and other service fees. All Utility Service Charges, as they existed the day prior to the Automatic Annual Increase Date, shall be increased by the Fixed Percentage to generate new Utility Service Charges. The new Utility Service Charges will apply to all bills rendered on or after the Automatic Annual Increase Date of November 1st, and throughout the ensuing twelve-month period, until October 31st of the next calendar year.

(b)   The Fixed Percentage shall be 2.00% unless the City Council for the City of Ellis approves a Resolution to adjust this figure before the Automatic Annual Increase Date.

(c)   Any ordinance inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this chapter is hereby repealed by reason of the aforesaid amendment.

(d)   This section shall not preclude other future rate adjustments, including emergency measures, as deemed necessary by the City Council of the City of Ellis, Kansas.

(Ord. 1407; Code 2022)