13.04.050 Application for service hookup.
A. As of July 15, 2022, no new water hookups will be accepted until the extensive backlog of water applications can be addressed by the city. For all applications accepted by the city prior to June 1, 2022, the applicant shall have until December 31, 2022, to pay the water hookup fee under KFMC 13.04.240, plus recording costs to the city. If the applicant does not pay the water hookup fee before December 31, 2022, then the application/agreement will be terminated pursuant to this section. Any applicant that pays the water hookup fee under KFMC 13.04.240 prior to December 31, 2022, must request a water hookup date prior to January 1, 2027. The city shall install these paid water hookups as weather, time, materials, and employee hours permit. If the city water hookup fee is amended by the city, then any additional hookup fee will be due upon request for the water hookup. If no request to hook up has been received by the city prior to January 1, 2027, then the application/agreement shall be terminated. After January 1, 2027, or an earlier date as approved by the city council, this subsection shall end and applications for service hookups shall continue as this section or any amendments thereto provide.
B. Application for all water hookups must be filed with the clerk/treasurer on forms furnished by the city, which the applicant shall supplement with such information as deemed necessary by the city superintendent. The applicant shall pay to the clerk/treasurer a nonrefundable deposit amount set forth in KFMC 13.04.230. All applications shall be made by the owner of the property to be served or his authorized agent.
C. This nonrefundable deposit shall either:
1. Be applied toward the hookup and installation fees if the hookup is approved and installed within six months of approval; or
2. Forfeited to the city if the hookup is either not approved or the hookup is approved but installation is not completed within six months of approval.
D. Existing commitments for water will be honored under the terms of the exiting contracts.
E. The city will establish a reserve of water capacity for the use of undeveloped property in the following areas, listed in order of priority:
1. Inside city limits.
2. Within the urban growth area.
3. Within the city’s water retail service area but outside the urban growth area boundaries.
F. In order to provide access to clean and reliable water, to protect the area’s resources, and to provide for public health and safety, rural water service may be provided to properties within the retail service area subject to the following determinations:
1. The city’s provision of such service is consistent with applicable laws governing water systems outside city limits.
2. The water system has sufficient capacity to serve water in a safe and reliable manner.
3. The service requested is consistent with adopted Stevens County plans and development regulations.
4. The city has sufficient water rights to provide service.
5. Service can be provided in a timely and reasonable manner.
6. The service requested is of similar character to that historically provided by the city in the surrounding rural area in which it is proposed.
7. The new connection is found to be beneficial and economically viable to the water system as a whole.
8. Property owners must agree to sign an agreement describing the responsibilities of the parties in order to obtain such service.
9. Property owners must also agree in writing to annexation into the city at such time that the city, in the city’s sole opinion, deems annexation reasonable and desirable.
10. All agreements under this section shall be binding upon the parties hereto and all the parties’ successors, heirs and assigns, and shall be appurtenant to and run with the land.
G. All applications for water hookups outside the city limits shall be reviewed by the city superintendent to verify application meets all application requirements and, if a question exists as to whether the application meets all applicable criteria, it shall be presented to the city engineer for further review and then to council at the next regular meeting for decision.
H. Water service and meter shall be installed within six months of city approval of water hookup application. (Ord. 1795, §1, 2021; Ord. 1809, §1, 2022).