New Franklin Ordinance 825: Water meter replacement fee and fund

CITY OF NEW FRANKLIN, MISSOURI

ORDINANCE NO. __825____

ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A WATER METER REPLACEMENT FEE AND WATER METER REPLACEMENT FUND

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF NEW FRANKLIN, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:

WHEREAS, the City of New Franklin maintains water meters for the citizens of the city; and

WHEREAS, because of aging infrastructure, the city desires to establish a fee for replacement, to be placed in a fund when the need arises.

Section 1. Title

This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "Water Meter Replacement Fee Ordinance."

Section 2. Definitions

For purposes of this ordinance, the following terms shall have the meanings stated below:

1. "Customer" means any person or entity receiving water service from the City and billed for such service.

2. "Meter" or "water meter" means the device installed by or for the City for measuring water usage at a service address.

3. "Meter size" means the nominal size classification of a water meter (e. g. , 5/8-inch, 3/4-inch, 1-inch), as reflected in the City's utility billing records or as determined by the City based on the installed meter.

4. "Billing period" means the regular interval for which the City issues water utility bills.

5. "Water Meter Replacement Program" means the City's planned program for repair, replacement, testing, and related work for water meters, including replacement of meters as warranties expire.

6. "Fund" means the Water Meter Replacement Fund established by this ordinance.

Section 3. Establishment of Water Meter Replacement Fee

1. Fee established. Beginning July 1, 2026, there is hereby established a monthly "Water Meter Replacement Fee" to be charged to each Customer account receiving water service from the City, based on the Meter size serving the account.

2. Tiered fee schedule. The Water Meter Replacement Fee shall be assessed per account per month (or per Billing period, prorated as necessary) in accordance with the following schedule:

1. 5/8-inch meter: $3.00 per month.

2. 1-inch meter: $6.50 per month.

3. 2-inch meter: $15.00 per month.

3. The City Clerk (or other designated official) is authorized to incorporate the adopted schedule into the City's published utility rate and fee schedule and billing system.

4. Relationship to other charges. The Water Meter Replacement Fee is in addition to all other water rates, fees, and charges established by the City.

Section 4. Billing, Collection, and Administration

1. Billing and collection. The Water Meter Replacement Fee shall be billed and collected on the same bill and at the same time as the City's regular water service charges, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Alderman.

2. Proration. The City may prorate the Water Meter Replacement Fee for partial Billing periods, including for new service connections, service terminations, or meter size changes.

3. Delinquency. Nonpayment of the Water Meter Replacement Fee shall be treated as nonpayment of the water utility bill and shall be subject to the same collection remedies and service consequences as apply to delinquent water service charges under the City's existing ordinances and policies.

4. Administrative authority. The Board of Alderman is authorized to adopt written administrative procedures consistent with this ordinance to implement the fee, including procedures for determining Meter size, correcting billing errors, and addressing disputed charges.

Section 5. Water Meter Replacement Fund; Use and Restrictions

1. Fund created. There is hereby created a special revenue fund to be known as the "Water Meter Replacement Fund."

2. Deposit of revenues. All revenues collected from the Water Meter Replacement Fee shall be deposited into the Fund.

3. Restricted use. Monies in the Fund shall be used solely for costs reasonably related to the Water Meter Replacement Program, including:

a. Purchase of replacement meters and related appurtenances.

b. Installation, replacement, testing, calibration, and related labor and equipment.

c. Program planning, inventory management, and reasonable administrative costs directly attributable to the Water Meter Replacement Program.

d. Contracted services necessary to implement the Water Meter Replacement Program.

4. Accounting. The City shall maintain the Fund in a manner that reasonably segregates and accounts for revenues and expenditures associated with the Water Meter Replacement Fee.

Section 6. Review; Adjustments; Bond and Rate Sufficiency Protection

1. Periodic review. The City shall periodically review the Water Meter Replacement Fee schedule and Fund balances in light of projected meter replacement needs, meter warranty expirations, and program costs.

2. Adjustments by ordinance. Any change to the Water Meter Replacement Fee schedule shall be made by ordinance.

3. Revenue bond and rate sufficiency protection. If the City has issued revenue bonds or other obligations payable from water system revenues, nothing in this ordinance shall be construed or applied in a manner that causes the City to fail to fix and maintain rates and charges sufficient to pay operation and maintenance costs and to pay principal and interest on such obligations, as applicable.

Section 7. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect after its passage by the Board of Aldermen and after its execution and approval the Mayor.

Passed this ___ day of ________________________, 2026

Mayor, Daniel Yount

ATTEST:

City Clerk

Approved this ________ day of ________________________, 2026.

I, __________________________, City Clerk of the City of New Franklin do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Ordinance ________________ of the City of New Franklin, passed by the Board of Aldermen after being read twice either by title or in full and the same appears in my office in permanent records.