ORDINANCE 493

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 487 OF THE CITY CODE ESTABLISHING NEW SEWER SERVICE RATES OF THE CITY OF PANHANDLE TEXAS.

WHEREAS, the City is undergoing the process of engineering, designing and constructing a new waster water facility, and;

WHEREAS, to continue providing waste water service to the citizens, it is necessary to increase the cost to provide adequate financing of a new wastewater facility, and;

WHEREAS, this ordinance is to amend the sewer rates established in Ordinance 487, and;

WHEREAS, the City’s current sewer rate charges are as follows:

  1. For residential use, the first 2000 gallons of water metered shall incur a fee of $6.00 per billing cycle.
  2. For mercantile use, the first 2000 gallons of water metered shall incur a fee of $9.30 per billing cycle.
  3. For industrial use, the first 2000 gallons of water metered shall incur a fee of $14.00 per billing cycle. (Industrial use is defined as service stations, car racks, equipment or auto repair garages, cafes, restaurants, hotels, motels, retirement centers, nursing homes, laundries, schools, manufacturing, convenience stores, gas stations and others as determined by the City Manager based on the use associated with the customer.)
  4. An additional $7.00 will be charged on the sewer fee for any water metered above 2000 gallons during a billing cycle in all three categories (residential, mercantile and industrial).
  5. In the event that sewer service is provided without a separate water meter the monthly fee shall be a minimum of $18.00 per billing cycle. (i.e. One water meter on two residences with sewer service as in multiple family dwellings or trailer parks.) An additional $7.00 per sewer service for each additional residence or apartment shall be charged if multiple residences are on one water meter. The City Manager may determine a larger cost if necessary because of large volume or increased maintenance of the sewer service that is to be provided.

WHEREAS, the use of these services outside the City limits shall be calculated at the rate of 1 ½ times the above listed rates.

WHEREAS, the availability of these services are in accordance with the Texas Local Government Code §212.012.

WHEREAS, the Mayor and the City Council desire to maintain financial responsibility and have determined that in the best interest of the City of Panhandle, a rate increase is necessary.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Panhandle the following rates and fees are adopted and effective on the bills mailed on June 28, 2002;

Sewer Rates shall be as follows:

  1. Inside the City Limits:
  2. For residential use, the first 2000 gallons of water metered shall incur a fee of $6.00 per billing cycle.
  3. For mercantile use, the first 2000 gallons of water metered shall incur a fee of $9.30 per billing cycle.
  4. For industrial use, the first 2000 gallons of water metered shall incur a fee of $14.00 per billing cycle. (Industrial use is defined as service stations, car racks, equipment or auto repair garages, cafes, restaurants, hotels, motels, retirement centers, nursing homes, laundries, schools, manufacturing, convenience stores, gas stations and others as determined by the City Manager based on the use associated with the customer.)
  5. An additional $14.00 will be charged on the sewer fee for any water metered above 2000 gallons during a billing cycle in all three categories (residential, mercantile and industrial).
  6. In the event that sewer service is provided without a separate water meter the monthly fee shall be a minimum of $18.00 per billing cycle. (i.e. One water meter on two residences with sewer service as in multiple family dwellings or trailer parks.) An additional $14.00 per sewer service for each additional residence or apartment shall be charged if multiple residences are on one water meter. The City Manager may determine a larger cost if necessary because of large volume or increased maintenance of the sewer service that is to be provided.
II.Outside the City Limits
  1. 1 ½ times the rates for all sewer service outside the City limits of the City of Panhandle.

III. Severability

If any section, subsection, sentence, paragraph, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council of the City of Panhandle hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, paragraph, clause or phrase hereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, paragraphs, clauses or phrases be declared unconstitutional or invalid.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of May, 2002

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Mayor Les McNeill, City of Panhandle

ATTEST:

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City Secretary Chris Coffman

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