§ 58-228. Delinquent accounts.

(a)

Nonpayment of charges. Charges for sewerage service levied pursuant to this article shall be due and payable on or before the due dates shown on the bills. Any service charge not paid by the due date (approximately 15 days after the bill is rendered) shall be considered delinquent. Such delinquent charge, together with any applied penalty, shall be collectible as set forth in this section.

(b)

Collection through lien and the tax duplicate. As provided by the statutes of the state, delinquent sewerage service charges may be made a lien against the property served through certification to the auditor and the recorder of the county. In such case, the delinquent service charges, together with the mandatory penalty of ten percent, shall be placed on the tax duplicate and be collected in the same manner as regular taxes and assessments are collected.

(c)

Collection through court action. In addition to the remedies set forth in subsection (b) of this section, the city shall have the right to bring a civil action to recover any delinquent charges, together with a penalty of ten percent and reasonable attorney's fees. The city shall also have the right, as provided by the statutes of the state, to foreclose any lien established under the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, with recovery of the charge, a penalty of ten percent and reasonable attorney's fees.

(Code 1974, § 15-167)