§ 34-251. Collection.

The public services department is hereby authorized to enforce the payment of charges for water service to any premises by discontinuing the water service to such premises and the payment of charges for sewage disposal service to any premises may be enforced by discontinuing either the water service or the sewage disposal service to such premises or both and an action of assumpsit may be instituted by the city against the customer. The charges for water service and sewage disposal service, which, under the provisions of Act No. 94 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1933 (MCL 141.101 et seq.), as amended, are made a lien on the premises to which furnished, are hereby recognized to constitute such lien; and the public services director shall, annually, on May first, certify all unpaid charges for such services furnished to any premises which, on the thirty-first day of March preceding, have remained unpaid for a period of three (3) months, to the council, who shall place the same on the next tax roll of the city after notification as provided for in the city charter. Such charges so assessed shall be collected in the same manner as general city taxes. In cases where the city is properly notified in accordance with Act No. 94 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1933 (MCL 141.101 et seq.), as amended, that a tenant is responsible for water or sewage disposal service charges, no such service shall be commenced or continued to such premises until there has been deposited with the public services department, a sum sufficient as estimated by the director, such deposit to be as prescribed by resolution of the council. Where the water service to any premises is turned off to enforce the payment of water service charges or sewage disposal service charges, the water service shall not be recommenced until all delinquent charges have been paid and a deposit as in the case of tenants is made. In any other case where, in the discretion of the public services director, the collection of charges for water or sewage disposal service may be difficult or uncertain, the director may require a similar deposit. Such deposits may be applied against any delinquent water or sewage disposal service charges and the application thereof shall not affect the right of the public services department to turn off the water service and/or sewer service, to any premises for any delinquency thereby satisfied. No such deposit shall bear interest and such deposit, or any remaining balance thereof, shall be returned to the customer making the same when he or she shall discontinue receiving water and sewage disposal service.

(Code 1977, § 2.96)