§ 3-1-17. Special assessment for delinquent utility bills; notice; lien

(a) In addition to other methods provided by law, it is hereby provided that special assessments for delinquent utility bills may be levied in accordance with the provisions of this Section, which are hereby adopted pursuant to Wis. Stats. § 66.60(16).

(b) Delinquent utility bills and service charges shall be levied as a special assessment against the real property, shall become a lien thereon, and placed on the tax roll with the same effect as other City taxes unless the Common Council otherwise determines after notice and opportunity to be heard as hereinafter set forth.

(c) Charges for the following services rendered by the City of Greenwood and the City public utilities shall be paid within twenty (20) days of the date of billing:

(1) Snow and ice removal.

(2) Weed elimination.

(3) Garbage and refuse collection, disposal and landfill dumping fees.

(4) Repair of sidewalks, curb and gutter.

(5) Charges for water and sewer service.

(d) If the amounts due to the City of Greenwood for services listed in Subsection (c)(1) through (4) are not paid when due, the City Clerk-Treasurer shall send a notice of the delinquent bill to the customer and to the property owner by standard mail.

(e) If the amount due to City utilities for services listed in Subsection (c)(5) is not paid when due, the City utilities shall send a notice of the delinquent bill to the customer and to the property owner pursuant to Wis. Admin. Code §§ PSC 113.132 and 113.133. If the bill is still delinquent by the month of October of the billing year, the City utilities shall send a notice of the delinquent bill to the customer and the property owner by standard mail.

(f) The notice referred to in Subsection (d) shall contain the following statement:

You are entitled to a hearing before the Common Council, or committee thereof, of the City of Greenwood to dispute the amount of this charge. You must request this hearing by notifying the City Clerk-Treasurer in writing within ten (10) days of the date of this notice.

(g) The notice sent by standard mail referred to in Subsection (e) shall contain the following statement:

You are entitled to a hearing before the Common Council, or committee thereof, of the City of Greenwood to dispute the amount of this charge. You must request this hearing by notifying the City Clerk-Treasurer in writing within ten (10) days of the date of this notice.

(h) In the event of a request for hearing, the City Clerk-Treasurer shall set the date and time for hearing upon receiving a written request under Subsection (f) or (g). This hearing shall be held before the Common Council, or committee thereof, for the City of Greenwood.

(i) At the time of the hearing referred to in Subsection (h), the Common Council, or committee thereof, shall hear all evidence brought before it concerning the correctness of the amount billed by the City of Greenwood in accordance with this Section. At the conclusion of this hearing, the Common Council, or committee thereof, shall decide the amount due the City, and all parties in attendance shall be notified of the decision.

(j) If the amount determined to be due to the City after the hearing referred to in Subsection (i) is not paid within five (5) days from the date of the Council's or committee's decision, then this amount shall become a lien upon the real estate served by the services referred to in Subsection (c). This shall be accomplished pursuant to the power granted to the City of Greenwood by Wis. Stats § 66.60(16).

(k) If a hearing is not requested in accordance with this Section, the amount due the City of Greenwood or the City public utilities shall become a lien upon the real estate served by the services referred to in Subsection (c) upon the expiration of twelve (12) days from the mailing of the notice referred to in Subsections (f) and (g).