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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-1120 Rate Order 2012-1120 RATE ORDER TROPHY CLUB MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT No. 1 ORDER No. 2012-1120 AN ORDER ESTABLISHING POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND RATES FOR WATER AND SEWER SERVICE; PROVIDING FEES FOR CONNECTION, RECONNECTION, INSPECTION, ACCURACY READINGS, AND RETURNED CHECKS; REQUIRING DEPOSITS FOR SERVICE; PROVIDING A PENALTY FOR DELINQUENT PAYMENTS; AND CONTAINING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT. WHEREAS, Trophy Club Municipal Utility District No. 1 (the “District”) is the owner and/or operator of a water and sewer system designed to serve present and future inhabitants within the District and the Trophy Club development; and WHEREAS, the District’s most recent Rate Order was adopted on January 18, 2011 (the “2011 Rate Order”), several additional modifications are needed at this time, and the District desires to establish all of its rate policies in a single new Rate Order; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the District has carefully considered the terms of this 2012-1120 Rate Order and is of the opinion that the following conditions and provisions should be established as the policies, procedures, and rates for obtaining service from the District’s water and sewer system. THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TROPHY CLUB MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 THAT: ARTICLE I TAP FEES AND CONNECTION POLICY Section 1.01. Initiation of Water and Sanitary Sewer Connections. Each person desiring a water and sanitary sewer service connection to the District’s System shall be required to pay such fees as set forth in this Order. No service shall be established or re-established until such fees are paid. All service connections are subject to all other rules, regulations, and policies of the District. Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 2 A. Certification of System. Connections shall not be made to the District’s System or portions of the System until the District’s engineer or Water/Wastewater Superintendent has certified that the System or applicable portion thereof is operable. B. Backflow Prevention. No water connections from any public drinking water supply system shall be allowed to any commercial establishment where an actual or potential contamination hazard exists unless the public water facilities are protected from contamination. At any commercial establishment where an actual or potential contamination hazard exists, protection shall be required at the meter in the form of a backflow prevention assembly. The type of assembly required shall be the one known as “Reduced Pressure Zone” (RPZ) unless otherwise specified by the District through its Superintendent. The existence of potential contamination hazards without installation having been made of the means of control and prevention as set out in the preceding paragraph; or, the same having been installed, there is a failure to properly maintain the same, shall be considered sufficient grounds for immediate termination of water service. Service can be restored only when the health hazard no longer exists, or when the health hazard has been isolated from the public water system in accordance with the foregoing requirements. All backflow prevention assemblies that are required according to this section shall be tested upon installation by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester and certified to be operating within specifications. Backflow prevention assemblies that are installed to provide protection against health hazards must also be tested and certified to be operating within specifications at least annually by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester. The Customer shall, at his expense, properly install, test, and maintain any backflow prevention device required by this Rate Order. Copies of all testing and maintenance records shall be provided to the MUD not later than a date to be fixed by the MUD. If the Customer fails to comply with the terms of this Order, the MUD shall, at its option, terminate service or properly install, test, and maintain an appropriate backflow prevention device at the service connection. Any expenses associated with the enforcement of this agreement shall be billed to the Customer. Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 3 C. Availability of Access/Obstructions. By application for connection to the District’s System, the Customer shall be deemed to be granting to the District and its representatives a right of ingress and egress to and from the meter or point of service for such installation, maintenance and repair as the District, in its judgment, may deem reasonably necessary. The Customer shall also be deemed to be granting to the District and its representatives a right of ingress and egress to the Customer’s property, including the exterior of the Customer’s premises, for the purpose of performing the inspections and completing the Customer‘s Service Inspection Certifications required by the District’s rules and regulations. Taps and connections will not be made when, in the opinion of the District, building materials or other debris obstructs the work area or the work area is not completed or finished to grade. When sidewalks, driveways or other improvements have been constructed prior to application for service, such application shall be construed and accepted as the Customer’s waiver of a claim for any damages to such improvements resulting from the reasonable actions of the District in installation of the connection. Section 1.02. Residential Fire Lines, Connections, and Fees. A residence of six-thousand (6,000) square feet and less than eight-thousand (8,000) square feet shall have installed on its one-inch (1”) water service line, for fire protection, and as part of said line, a one-inch (1”) U-branch, with a separate meter and meter-box. The cost of said U-branch, meter, and meter-box shall be in the amount of five-hundred-twenty-five dollars ($525.00), payable at the time of permitting. A residence of more than eight-thousand (8,000) square feet, in addition to its regular one-inch (1”) water service line, shall have installed a separate one- and one-half inch (1½”) water service line for fire protection with its own meter and meter-box. The cost of connection and installation of said separate line, meter and meter-box shall be either nine-hundred-seventy-five dollars ($975.00) if the home is on the same side of the street as the waterline; or, if it is on the opposite side of the street from the waterline, necessitating boring, then the charge shall be two-thousand-three-hundred-fifty dollars ($2,350.00), payable at the time of permitting. Section 1.03. Connections by District. All connections to the District’s sewer system shall be made in accordance with the District’s Plumbing Code and its rules and regulations. No person except the District Manager or his/her authorized agent shall be permitted to tap or make any connection to the mains or distribution piping of the District’s water system, except for emergency firefighting purposes, or make any repairs or additions to or alterations in any meter, box, tap, pipe, cock or other fixture connected with the water service or any manhole, main, trunk or appurtenance of the District’s sanitary sewer system, unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors of the District. No Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 4 sewer connection shall be covered in the ground before a representative of the District has inspected the sewer connection. No house lead shall be covered in the ground before the water connection has been inspected and approved by a licensed plumbing inspector with jurisdiction of the site. Section 1.04. Inspections and Fees. Fees for permits and for plumbing inspections (other than for sewer and backflow inspections referred to below in subparagraphs A and B) should be paid to the city or town in which the property is located or to the District if the property is not located within a city or town. A. Sewer Inspection and Fees. Sewer connections and house service lines shall be inspected by the District. An inspection fee of one-hundred-fifty dollars ($150.00) shall be paid to the District for each connection to the District sanitary sewer system. Installations that fail to conform at any time to the rules and regulations shall be disconnected. Any customer whose connection is disconnected for such failure shall be notified as to the basis for such disconnection. After noted deficiencies have been corrected, a re-inspection shall be made upon payment to the District of a re-inspection fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), plus payment by the customer of all outstanding charges. If subsequent re-inspections are required before the sewer connection and service lines are in compliance with the rules and regulations, a re-inspection fee of twenty- five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid to the District for each subsequent re- inspection. Re-inspections by the District requested after regular business hours will be charged at a minimum of one-hundred dollars ($100.00). B. Backflow Inspections. For all backflow installations (residential and commercial) inspected by the personnel of the District, an inspection fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be paid to the District. Inspections that fail to conform at any time to the rules and regulations shall be disconnected. Any customer whose connection is disconnected for such failure shall be notified as to the basis for such disconnection. After noted deficiencies have been corrected, a re-inspection shall be made upon payment to the District of a re-inspection fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), plus payment by the customer of all outstanding charges. If subsequent re-inspections are required, a re-inspection fee of twenty- five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid to the District for each subsequent re- inspection. Re-inspections by the District requested after regular business hours will be charged at a minimum of one-hundred dollars ($100.00). C. Swimming Pool Discharge into Sanitary Sewer System. New swimming pools permitted on or after June 24, 2005, shall have all backwash and/or drainage from said pool discharge into the sanitary sewer system. Owners of pools built or permitted prior to July 1, 2005 are not required to retrofit the pool equipment and tie into the sanitary sewer. Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 5 An indirect connection shall be made by means of an air break, discharging into a tailpiece installed a minimum of six inches (6”) (or 152 mm) above adjacent grade. The tailpiece shall be connected to a minimum three-inch (3” or 76 mm) p-trap not less than twelve inches (12” or 304 mm) below grade which discharges into the yard cleanout riser. Backwash systems shall not flow onto neighboring properties or into the storm sewer. The tie-in and inspection fee shall be seventy-five dollars ($75.00) to be paid at the time of issuance of the pool permit. Section 1.05. Temporary Water Service - Construction Meters. A. Construction Meters. The District shall be authorized to make a temporary connection to any fire hydrant or flushing valve upon request for temporary water service. All temporary service shall be metered and billed to the temporary customer as provided herein. All unauthorized withdrawal of water from flushing valves, fire hydrants, or other appurtenances of the District’s System without prior approval of the District, except for emergency fire-fighting purposes, is prohibited. B. Application and Deposit. Each temporary customer desiring temporary water service shall be required to execute an application for such temporary service and shall provide a minimum security deposit of one-thousand-seven-hundred-seventy-five dollars ($1,775.00) for a three-inch (3”) meter and RPZ; six-hundred-fifty dollars ($650.00) for a smaller meter and smaller RPZ. The deposit shall be made by cashier’s check or money order payable to the District. The deposit shall be used by the District to secure the payment for temporary water supplied by the District, the installation fee, and the cost of repair of any damages caused by the temporary customer. The balance of the security deposit, if any, shall be refunded after disconnection from the District’s System. C. Construction Meter Fees and Rates. A fee of one- hundred dollars ($100.00) for costs of installation, plus the cost of the metered water, shall be charged for temporary water service. The following rate for the sale of water for each temporary water service connection shall be in effect from the effective date hereof until such time as the Board amends said rate: Gallons Used Rate Any amount $3.55 per each 1,000 gallons D. Temporary Construction Meter Use Constraints. To avoid damages resulting from freezing weather, all temporary construction and irrigation meters shall be removed from fire hydrants at the end of Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 6 each day and no later than 4:00 p.m. beginning November 1 and through the following March 15. Any irrigation and/or construction meter found still attached to a fire hydrant after 4 p.m. beginning November 1 and through the following March 15, will be removed at a service charge fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00). Should any irrigation and/or construction meter attached to a fire hydrant cause damage as a result of being attached to a meter during freezing conditions beginning November 1 and through the following March 15, renter will be responsible for all costs associated with repair of damaged fire hydrant, to include labor costs. Section 1.06. Service Outside the District. The rates and charges stated in this Rate Order are for service to customers and property located within the boundaries of the District. Any service to a customer or property located outside the boundaries of the District shall be granted only upon special approval by the Board of Directors of the District. Unless other provisions are established by a special contract approved by the Board of Directors of the District, any service to customers or property outside the boundaries of the District shall be at the same rates and terms as specified in this Rate Order, except that regular charges for water, sewer, and tap charges shall be doubled. Service to Trophy Club Park at Lake Grapevine is specifically exempted from the doubling provision of the preceding paragraph. Section 1.07. Water Meter and Water Tap Fees. Domestic one-inch (1”) meter: $ 317.00 Fee for MUD-made Water Tap: $ 1,000.00 Inspection Fee for Water Tap: $ 50.00 The one-thousand-dollar ($1,000.00) fee must be received by the District before any residential connection is initially made by MUD personnel to the District’s water system, which includes the cost for a one-inch (1”) meter. When taps have been made by someone other than MUD personnel, there is an installation/inspection fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) plus the cost of the appropriate meter. Any request by a customer for service from an oversized connection line or from a meter larger than a one-inch (1”) standard meter shall be granted by the District only if the customer agrees and makes suitable arrangements to pay the increased costs for such larger line and/or meter as set out above in Paragraph 1.02. Each customer requesting an initial connection to the District’s Water System shall also pay to the District the cost required to be paid by the District to the City of Fort Worth as a “water impact fee” or “water access fee” for the additional customer connection to the Fort Worth Water System. Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 7 Section 1.08. Sewer Tap Fees. The charge for all taps of sewer lines within the District shall be equal to the cost to the District for making such connections. Section 1.09. Title to Facilities. Title to all water meters, water and sewer taps, and all other appurtenances, including meter boxes, shall lie in the District. ARTICLE II SERVICE RATES Section 2.01. Water Service. The following monthly rates for the sale of water shall be in effect for each Separate Connection within the District from the effective date hereof until such time as the Board of Directors amends said rates: A. Chemically Treated Water. Water from the District’s facilities which has been mixed, chlorinated, or otherwise treated so that it is suitable for human use and consumption shall be at the following rates: (1) Single-Family Homes. Each single family home shall be billed as follows: Basic Charge Fee: (Does not include water usage) $12.71 0-6,000 gallons per month $2.50/1,000 gallons 7,000 to 17,000gallons per month $3.05/1,000 gallons 18,000 to 25,000 gallons per month $3.30/1,000 gallons 26,000 to 50,000 gallons per month $3.40/1,000 gallons 51,000 plus gallons per month $3.50/1,000 gallons (2) Commercial. Each business service connection shall be deemed to be a single-family home for purposes of water service. (3) Clubs. Each club shall be deemed to be a single- family home for purposes of water service. (4) Golf Course. Each meter shall be deemed to be a single-family home for the purposes of water service. (5) Multi-Family Buildings. (i) Single Meter. Each multi-family building or complex of buildings that is served by a single meter shall be billed for water at the same rate as a single- Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 8 family home, with a Basic Charge Fee of $12.71 times the number of units in the building or complex. (ii) Multiple Meters. If a multi-family building or complex of buildings is served by more than one meter, then water delivered through each meter shall be billed at the same rate as a single family home, with a Basic Charge Fee of $12.71 times the number of units served by the meter. (6) Public Access Parks. Any water or sewer services utilized by the Town of Trophy Club in public access parks for the operation and maintenance of such parks will be billed at the in-district rate. Such water and sewer services shall be for the benefit of the residents of the Town of Trophy Club. Use for any other purpose shall require the services to be billed at double the rate. Section 2.02. Sewer Service Rates. The following monthly rates for the collection and disposal of sewage shall be in effect for each Separate Connection within the District from the effective date hereof until such time as the Board of Directors amends said rates: A. Single-Family Homes and Cottages. Each single-family home and cottage shall be billed based upon the treated water used by such unit that month, as follows: Basic Charge Fee: (Does not include sewer usage) $12.71 0-12,000 gallons per month $2.50/1,000 gallons 12,000 gallons maximum per month for residential B. Commercial Buildings (including Clubs). Each commercial building shall be billed for sewer service at the same rate as single-family homes, based on the treated water used by such unit that month as follows: Basic Charge Fee: (Does not include sewer usage) $12.71 0-6,000 gallons per month $2.50/1,000 gallons 7,000-17,000 gallons per month $3.05/1,000 gallons 18,000-25,000 gallons per month $3.30/1,000 gallons 26,000 to 50,000 gallons per month $3.40/1,000 gallons 51,000 plus gallons per month $3.50/1,000 gallons C. Multi-Family Buildings. Each unit in a multi-family building or complex of buildings shall be billed at the same rate as a single-family Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 9 home, with a Basic Charge Fee of $12.71 times the number of units in the building or complex. Section 2.03. Golf Course Irrigation Water to the Lakes / Effluent Charge. The effluent from the District’s wastewater treatment plant will be sold pursuant to separate contracts entered into with the District and approved by its Board of Directors. The District has contracted to sell effluent to the Trophy Club Country Club and discharge said effluent into golf course lakes at a charge of sixty cents ($0.60) per thousand gallons for the years 2009-2011. Effective May 1, 2011 and continuing through April 30, 2013, the charge shall be sixty-five cents ($0.65) per thousand gallons. Effective May 1, 2013 and continuing through April 30, 2015, the charge shall be seventy cents ($0.70) per thousand gallons. In addition to water usage charges, when the customer requests fresh water on the day that established the District’s peak draw from the City of Fort Worth, the customer shall be required to pay its respective portion of any demand rate and/or minimal payment rate as specified in the District’s wholesale water supply contract with the City of Fort Worth. However, if the customer’s demand is absorbed by the District with no additional charges from Fort Worth, the District may in its discretion waive the demand and/or minimal payment charges to the customer. Section 2.04. Stand-by Charge. For those lots subject to recorded restrictive covenants that require or authorize the District to charge a stand-by fee for water and sewer service where the lot has water and sewer service available but the lot is not yet connected to the District’s system, the stand-by fee shall be six dollars ($6.00) per month. Unless otherwise provided by the terms of the recorded restrictive covenant applicable to a particular lot, the stand-by charge shall commence on the first day of the month following the date upon which water and sewer service is available at the property line of the lot and the charge shall cease on the first day of the month preceding the date upon which water and sewer use charges become due and payable to the District for water and sewer service supplied to the lot. Section 2.05. Master Meter (Cooling Tower Calculation). The water usage from the master meter reading less the reading from the “Blow Down” meter equals the “evaporation.” Water usage less “evaporation” equals sewer usage for billing purposes. Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 10 Section 2.06. Regulatory Assessment. Pursuant to Section 5.235, Texas Water Code, and 30 TAC291.76, the District shall pay a regulatory assessment to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) annually in the amount required by law on the total charges for retail water and sewer service billed to its customers annually. At the end of each year, the District shall prepare a written statement indicating (i) the total charges for retail water and sewer service for the year and (ii) the regulatory assessment due and payable to the TCEQ. Section 2.07. No Reduced Rates or Free Service. All customers receiving water and/or sewer service from the District shall be subject to the provisions of this Order and shall be charged the rates established in this Order, and no reduced rate or free service shall be furnished to any customer whether such user be a charitable or eleemosynary institution, a political subdivision, or municipal corporation; provided, however, this provision shall not prohibit the District from establishing reasonable classifications of customers for which rates differing from the rates stated herein may be adopted. ARTICLE III SERVICE POLICY Section 3.01. Security Deposits. Security deposits shall be required as follows: A. Builder’s Deposit A seventy-five dollar ($75.00) security deposit shall be required of builders for each tap made by the District for such service connection, payable at or prior to the time that such tap is made, and the security deposit is refundable to the builder when the account is later transferred to an owner if that account and all other accounts of the builder are current at the time of the transfer; but, if that account or any other account of the same builder is not current at the time of such transfer to an owner, then the security deposit shall be applied against the outstanding balance of the builder’s account(s) at the time of such transfer. The District shall deduct from the deposit the cost to repair any damage caused to the District’s property by the builder or the builder’s employees, contractors, subcontractors or agents and shall deduct any delinquent water and sewer service bills of the builder. In the event any amounts are so deducted from the builder’s deposit, it will be incumbent on the builder to reinstate the original amount of the deposit, and failure to do so will result in the suspension of any additional water taps for the builder. Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 11 B. Residential Owners. A seventy-five dollar ($75.00) security deposit shall be required from each residential owner customer for a single-family home connected to the District’s system. The security deposit shall be held for a period of (5) years at which time the deposit will be refunded to customer on their current bill only if the customer has maintained a current account with no more than (2) late fees occurring in any calendar year and has had no disconnection of service for nonpayment. If the customer has water service disconnected two or more instances during any calendar year, said customer will be required to pay an additional deposit of $75.00 plus service fees to have water service restored. If the customer does not qualify for a refund of the security deposit or the District’ maintains additional deposits due to disconnection of services twice within any calendar year. Upon discontinuation of service, the deposit shall be applied against amounts due, including any disconnection fees. C. Residential Lessees. A security deposit of one-hundred-fifty dollars ($150.00) shall be required from each residential lessee customer for a single-family home. The security deposit shall be held for a period of (5) years at which time the deposit will be refunded to customer on their current bill only if the customer has maintained a current account with no more than (2) late fees occurring in any calendar year and has had no disconnection of service for nonpayment. If the customer has water service disconnected two or more instances during any calendar year, said customer will be required to pay an additional deposit of $75.00 plus service fees to have water service restored. If the customer does not qualify for a refund of the security deposit or the District’ maintains additional deposits due to disconnection of services twice within any calendar year. Upon discontinuation of service, the deposit shall be applied against amounts due, including any disconnection fees. D. Construction Meters. See Paragraph 1.05 above. E. Other customers. A security deposit equal to two (2) months’ estimated average monthly water and sewer bill shall be required of all other customers. F. Deposits. Currently, the MUD/District does not pay interest on deposits. The interest drawn by the MUD/District on customer deposits is returned into the operating budget of the water/sewer fund to help in providing the lowest possible water and sewer rates for our customers. Section 3.02. Billing Procedures. All accounts shall be billed in accordance with the following: Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 12 A. Due Date and Delinquency. Charges for water service, sewer service, and standby fees shall be billed monthly. Payment shall be due on or before the twentieth (20th) day of the month in the month in which the bill was received. Unless payment is received on or before the twentieth (20th) day of the month, such account shall be considered delinquent. If the due date falls on a holiday or weekend, the due date for payment purposes shall be the next working day after the due date. The District shall charge a penalty on past due accounts calculated at the rate of ten percent (10%) per month on water, sewer and standby charges. The rates for water and sewer service shall depend upon the type of user and upon whether the water used has been chemically treated, as provided in this Rate Order. All accounts not paid by the due date shall be deemed delinquent and failure to make payment thereafter may result in the termination of water and sewer service. B. Additional Charges – In the event that a service is disconnected more than two (2) times per calendar year (January through December) for non-payment, an additional Security Deposit of $75.00 will be required for Residential homeowners and $75.00 for Lessees to restore service in addition to a $25.00 service fee, an afterhours re-connection charges if applicable, and any outstanding balance on the account to satisfy the minimum amount due. C. Disconnection Fees - As set out above in Section 3.01. If payment is not received prior to the date that disconnection has been scheduled, a service charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) will be added to the account. Reconnections made outside of the District’s normal business hours at the customer’s request will be charged at an additional after hour’s fee of one-hundred dollars ($100.00). D. Notice and Appeal. Prior to termination of service, a customer who is delinquent in payment shall be sent a notice that service will be discontinued on or after the fifteenth (15th) day after the date of such notice unless payment in full is received before by such day disconnection is scheduled. Notice shall be sent by first class United States mail and shall inform the customer of the amount of the delinquent bill, the date service will be disconnected if payment is not made, and of the customer’s right to contest, explain, or correct the charges, services, or disconnection. Customers may appeal to the Board of Directors. If the customer appears before the Board, in person or by written correspondence, the Board shall hear and consider the matter and inform the customer of the Board’s determination by sending written notice to the customer by first class United States mail stating whether or not service will be disconnected. In the event that a service is disconnected more than two (2) times per calendar year (January through December) for non-payment, an additional Security Deposit of $100.00 will be required for Residential homeowners and $100.00 for Lessees to restore service in addition to a $25.00 service fee, an afterhours re-connection charges if Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 13 applicable, and any outstanding balance on the account to satisfy the minimum amount due. As set out above in Section 3.01. If payment is not received prior to the date that disconnection has been scheduled, a service charge of twenty- five dollars ($25.00) will be added to the account. Reconnections made outside of the District’s normal business hours at the customer’s request will be charged at an additional after hour’s fee of one-hundred dollars ($100.00). C. Business Hours. For purposes of assessing the foregoing charges, “normal” or ”regular” business hours shall mean only the hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays. All other times are outside of the District’s normal business hours and will result in the higher charge. D. Returned Checks. A twenty-five dollar ($25.00) charge will be charged to the customer’s account for any check returned by the bank. Any amounts due on an account which have been paid with a check that has been returned by the bank must be paid in full by cash, cashier’s check or money order, including all late charges and returned check charges, within five (5) days from the day the District hangs a notice on the customer’s door or otherwise notified the customer that the check has been returned by the bank. E. Same-Day Service. A additional charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be made when a customer requests same-day service. As an example, this charge will be implemented upon request by a customer for same-day service to start or terminate water and sewer service or to perform re-reads the same day as requested. F. Accuracy Reading Fee. A meter accuracy reading fee in the amount of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be charged to a customer by the District for each meter accuracy reading made by the District for such customer when the original reading appears to be accurate. If the original meter reading appears to be in error, no fee will be charged. Each customer will be allowed one accuracy meter reading per calendar year at no charge. Should a customer request that the meter accuracy reading be made by an outside source, then a fee of one-hundred-twnety-five dollars ($125.00) will be charged to the customer. If the original meter reading is found to be in error, then the customer will be given a credit offsetting the amount of the charge G. Termination of Service. When a customer stops service or service is terminated due to bankruptcy, foreclosure, or otherwise, then it is the policy of the MUD/District not to impose any further monthly fees until such time as service is initiated. There shall be no reoccurring Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 14 monthly fees imposed upon a residence that is vacant and receives no service. Section 3.03. Entitlement. Customers are not guaranteed a specific quantity or pressure of water or specific capacity in sewer facilities for any purpose whatsoever; furthermore, in no instance shall the District be liable for failure or refusal to furnish water or any particular amount or pressure of water or to provide capacity in sewer facilities. Section 3.04. Unauthorized and Extraordinary Waste. The rates established herein are applicable for Domestic Waste as defined herein. Customers proposing to generate other types of waste will be assessed additional charges as established by the District. Section 3.05. Damage to District Facilities. A. Damage to Meter and Appurtenances. No person other than a duly authorized agent of the District shall open a meter box, tamper with or in any way interfere with a meter, meter box, service line or other water and/or sewer system appurtenance. The District reserves the right, immediately and without notice, to remove the meter or disconnect water service to any customer whose meter has been tampered with and to assess repair charges to the customer, plus a damage fee not to exceed five-thousand dollars ($5,000.00), plus any applicable charge for same day service. B. Repair. It shall be the responsibility of each customer to maintain the sewer line including the tap, from the point of connection to the District’s sewer system and to the building served. It is the responsibility of the customer to maintain and repair the water service line from the point of connection to the District’s water meter. The District reserves the right to repair any damage to the District’s System and appurtenances without prior notice and to assess against any customer such penalties as are provided by law and such penalties provided for in this Rate Order in addition to those charges necessary to repair the portion of the System so damaged. C. Video. If at any time a resident/customer wishes to have the District video their sewer line to help the resident determine the condition of their sewer line, the fee will be one-hundred-fifty dollars ($150.00) payable to the District assessed on the next month’s bill. Section 3.06. Requested Temporary Disconnection. If service is temporarily disconnected at the customer’s request, the charge for such voluntary disconnection shall be ten dollars ($10.00), and the charge for subsequently reconnecting the service shall also be ten dollars ($10.00). These Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 15 charges apply to connects and disconnects that are completed during normal business hours. Section 3.07. Easements. Before service is begun to any customer, or once begun before reconnection is made, the person requesting such service shall grant an easement of ingress and egress to and from the meter(s) for such maintenance and repair as the District, in its judgment, may deem necessary. Section 3.08. Required Service. No service will be given from the District’s water and sewer system unless the customer agrees to take both water and sewer service, except that permanent irrigation only services may receive water only, and projects under construction may, if they wish, receive water service only during the period of such construction. Section 3.09. Additional Charges. In all cases where services are performed for and equipment or supplies are furnished to a party or entity not within MUD 1, the charge to said party or entity shall be the MUD’s cost of providing such services, equipment and/or supplies, plus fifteen percent (15%). This shall not apply to services; equipment and/or supplies furnished by MUD 1 under an existing Interlocal Agreement nor to the rates MUD 1 charges for out-of- district water and sewer service. ARTICLE IV INDUSTRIAL WASTE Section 4.01. Industrial Waste Policy. The following policy regarding industrial waste shall be effective: A. Definition. “Industrial waste” shall mean the water-borne solids, liquids, and/or gaseous wastes (including Cooling Water), resulting from any industrial, manufacturing, trade, business, commercial, or food processing operation or process, or from the development of any natural resource, or any mixture of such solids, liquids, or wastes with water or domestic sewage. The Clean Water Act of 1977, as amended, and the General Pretreatment Regulations contained in 40 C.F.R. §403 contain the requirements for user’s discharge of industrial waste into wastewater facilities. B. Industrial Waste Discharge-Charges and Rates. If any customer of the District’s sanitary sewer system proposes to discharge industrial waste into such system, the Board of Directors of the District shall request the recommendation of the District Engineer and shall establish rates and charges to provide for an equitable assessment of costs whereby such rates and charges for discharges of industrial waste correspond to the cost of waste treatment, taking into account the volume Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 16 and strength of the industrial, domestic, commercial waste, and all other waste discharges treated and techniques of the treatment required. Such rates shall be an equitable system of cost recovery which is sufficient to produce revenues, in proportion to the percentage of industrial wastes proportionately relative to the total waste load to be treated by the District for the operation and maintenance of the treatment works, for the amortization of the District’s indebtedness for the cost as may be necessary to assure adequate waste treatment on a continuing basis. B. Pretreatment. The Board of Directors of the District shall rely upon the recommendation of the District Engineer and shall require pretreatment of any industrial waste that would otherwise be detrimental to the treatment works or to its proper and efficient operation and maintenance or will otherwise prevent the entry of such industrial waste into the treatment plant. ARTICLE V ENFORCEMENT/CIVIL PENALTIES Section 5.01. Enforcement. A. Civil Penalties. The Board hereby imposes the following civil penalties for breach of any rule of the District: The violator shall pay the District twice the costs the District has sustained due to the violation up to five-thousand dollars ($5,000.00). A penalty under this Section is in addition to any other penalty provided by the laws of this State and may be enforced by complaints filed in the appropriate court of jurisdiction in the county in which the District’s principal office or meeting place is located. If the District prevails in any suit to enforce its rules, it may, in the same action, recover any reasonable fees for attorneys, expert witnesses, and other costs incurred by the District before the court. The court shall fix the amount of the attorneys’ fees. B. Liability for Costs. Any person violating any of the provisions of this Order and/or the rules and regulations governing water and sanitary sewer facilities, service lines, and connections shall become liable to the District for any expense, loss or damage occasioned by the District by reason of such violation, and enforcement thereof shall be in accordance with Paragraph A of Section 5.01 of this Order. Section 5.02. Non-waiver. The failure on the part of the District to enforce any section, clause, sentence, or provision of this Order shall not constitute a waiver of the right of the District later to enforce any section, clause, sentence, or provision of this Order. Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 17 Section 5.03. Appeal. Any determination by the District of any dispute regarding the terms and provisions of this order may be appealed to the Board of the District, which shall conduct a hearing on the matter. The District shall provide the customer with information regarding appeals and hearing procedures upon the customer’s request. ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS Section 6.01. Amendments. The Board of the District has and specifically reserves the right to change, alter or amend any rate or provision of this Order at any time. Section 6.02. Severability. The provisions of this Order are severable, and if any provision or part of this Order or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall ever be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional for any reason, the remainder of this Order and application of such provision or part of this Order shall not be affected thereby. Section 6.03. Headings. The section and paragraph headings used herein are for reference only and are not to be construed as part of the text of the section or paragraph. ARTICLE VII REPEAL OF PREVIOUS ORDERS This Rate Order shall be known as the “2012-1 Rate Order” (Order2012- 1031) of the District. All previous Orders adopted by the Board of Directors pertaining to the subject matter hereof are each hereby repealed in their entirety as of the effective date hereof. ARTICLE VIII EFFECTIVE DATE This Order shall be effective November 20, 2012. ARTICLE IX PUBLIC MEETING It is hereby found that the meeting at which this Order is adopted is open to the public as required by law, and that public notice of the time, place, and subject matter of said meeting and of the proposed adoption of this Order was given as required by law. Trophy Club MUD 1 2012 Rate Order Order 2012-1120 18 PASSED, ADOPTED, ORDERED, AND APPROVED on this twentieth day of November, 2012 _________________________________ Jim Moss, President (SEAL) ____________________________________ Kevin R. Carr, Secretary/Treasurer ___________________________ Laurie Slaght, MUD Secretary