§ 62-31. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Air hammer is caused when the inclusion of air into the city's water system results in air escaping into the atmosphere from the valves, toilets and other related plumbing accessories in homes and other structures, creating pressure spikes in the plumbing system that causes reverberations, banging, thumping, rattling or shaking until the spike is absorbed.

Application means a person's written petition to the city on the city's forms for each utility service. Such application shall in any case state the official house number or numbers of the property, the street number, address where mail is to be sent and telephone number where the person can be reached during the day and in the evening. A person's signature on the application obligates the person to governance by and subject to the laws of the city.

Bill means the invoice from the city to a person for utility services.

Billing statement means the invoice from the city to the owner or renter of the property showing utility sum(s) due to the city and is composed of two parts: the statement proper and the attached billing stub that should be returned with payment. The words invoice and billing statement may be used interchangeably.

Building contractor means any contractor, sub contractor, builder, remodeler, repairman, person, company, corporation or organization building on or making improvements and repairs to property and its existing buildings and improvements.

Charges means fees for connection to utility services furnished by the city set forth in city law.

Code compliance officer means any employee or agent of the city who is authorized to issue citations to all consumers, customers or users of the city's utility services who are in violation of the city's laws.

Connection means any utility service furnished by the city to any person, such connection only being made after approval of the person's application by the city and its agents, and issuance of all requisite permits and approvals specified by city law and upon agreement by the person to comply with the rates and laws of the city.

Construction means all building of, or modifications of or additions to, new or existing buildings or structures requiring a building permit or having a total cost of $1,000.00 or more.

Consumer means a person at any property served by or through any utility service, other than the customer in whose name the meter is listed or from whom payment may be required.

Customer means the owner of the property served by a utility service, or the tenant, lessee, renter, or occupant of such property, or the person in or against whose name such utility service for such property is listed on the books and records of the city, and who is responsible to the city for payment of bills incurred for all utility services furnished by the city to such property and for use by such property, either or both.

Deposit means the security payment the person applying for utility service may be required to pay to the city as set forth in city laws.

Discolored water means any foreign matter in the water that causes a change from crystal clear to turbid.

Disconnect means to physically sever the water line between the city's main to the customer's water meter.

Disconnection for nonpayment. If bills for utility services are not paid when due, the city shall have the right to disconnect and discontinue all utility services furnished by the city to the person so in arrears, so long as the disconnection is in accordance with city, state and federal rules, regulations and laws.

Fees means the monthly amount billed to a person for all city utility services that are performed.

Hazardous waste means any chemical, compound, mineral, mixture, substance or article, in solid, liquid, or gaseous form, which is designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or appropriate agency of the state to be hazardous as that term is defined by or pursuant to federal or state law or regulation. Hazardous waste may not be disposed of in the city's waste management systems. A person who generates such waste must properly and legally dispose of their hazardous materials at legal, designated disposal centers located in the Atlanta area.

Late payment penalty means a fee added to the utility bill if such bill is not paid on or before the discount date shown on the face of the bill.

Laws mean the entire Code of the City of Mountain Park, Georgia, and all rules and regulations promulgated in such Code.

Meter means a device for the measurement of certain utility services furnished by the city to a person and property, either or both.

Minimum monthly bill means the fixed minimum monthly payment required for a utility service calculated under the provisions of this article.

Notification of hearing means the city has mailed to the person a written notice of a hearing regarding a delinquent utility service account that is subject to disconnection for nonpayment. Failure of the person to respond to the notification of hearing or to appear at the schedule hearing date is not in any way a responsibility of the city.

Offense means any violation of this article, including but not limited to a failure to pay the utility service bill on time.

Owner means the legally registered owner of the building, structure or location where utility services are supplied by the city.

Payments due. All bills for utility services furnished by the city shall be due and payable prior to midnight of the date of the month specified on such bill; provided, however, if such due date shall fall on a weekend or legal holiday observed by the city, such bill shall be due and payable by midnight of the following business day.

Person means all owners, consumers, customers and users, or any builder or developer acting as the person's agent or on the person's behalf in order to receive utility services on the property.

Person(s) means all owners, consumers, customers and users, or any building contractor, remodeler, developer or any designee acting as the person's agent or on the person's behalf in order to receive utility services on the property.

Property means all land, buildings, structures, premises, units and space at any location.

Rates mean the schedules of fees for usage of any utility service furnished by the city in accordance with city law. Rate schedules are available from the office of the city clerk.

Reauthorize means the city council has determined that a utility that has been shut off or disconnected may be turned back on or reconnected.

Reconnect means the city has determined that a utility may be reconnected after it has been disconnected. All fees, permits, deposits, approvals and expenses for new connections of a utility service will apply.

Reconnect after disconnection. If any utility service is disconnected for nonpayment of the bill, the person responsible therefor shall have the right to have such service reconnected only upon payment of the amount due and a reconnection fee as set forth in the city law on file in the office of the city clerk.

Refund means the amount of money due from deposits to the city when a person terminates his utility service, and only after payment of all indebtedness of the person to the city for his utility service. The city may make a partial or total settlement of a person's utility service accounts when supply is cut off for nonpayment of bills, or for any infraction or violation of any law of the city related to utility services.

Shut off means to turn off the person's water at the stopcock before the meter and to lock the meter so it cannot be opened.

Supply utility service means to supply any form of utility service in any manner to any property served by the city.

User means a customer of any utility service furnished by the city, and whose property may also discharge sewage, waste or water into the public sanitary sewer system in any quantity.

Utility contractor means any person, company, corporation or organization that furnishes utility services for the city.

Utility service means water, sewer, solid waste collection or disposal and/or any other similar utility service furnished by the city to a person.

Voluntary discontinuance of service. A person wishing to discontinue the use of any or all utility services shall give written notice thereof at the city hall; the city has five working days thereafter to cut off the utility services. Failure of the person to give written notice renders the person liable for the payment of all bills until such written notice is received by the city.

Water hammer is caused when the flow of moving water through a pipe is suddenly stopped by rapidly closing a valve, which creates a pressure spike in the plumbing system that causes reverberations, banging, thumping, rattling or shaking until the spike is absorbed.

(Ord. No. 246-02, § 1, 2-25-2002; Ord. No. 280-05, § 1, 11-21-2005)

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.