ORDINANCE NO. 2025-5
AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE RATES AND SETTING THE CONNECTION FEES FOR THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM OF THE CITY OF DOVER ARKANSAS, REVOKING ORDINANCES NO. 2022-2 AND NO. 2022-3; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, the City of Dover has determined that it is necessary to adjust the water and sewer rates of the City of Dover, Arkansas in order to continue to be able to furnish adequate services for the inhabitants of the City of Dover and to do so in a manner consistent with raising sufficient revenues to pay for the cost of providing services; and
WHEREAS, in order to fix the rates and set the connection fees for the water and sewer system of the City of Dover, Arkansas, it is necessary to revoke Ordinance No. 2022-2 and Ordinance No. 2022-3.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1: That the following rates shall be fixed as monthly rates for those residents of Dover who are connected to the water works system of the City of Dover, Arkansas:
SEWER RATES
Minimum Bill: $20.74, which includes the first 1,000 gallons.
The sewer rate for those connected to a water system outside the City Limits:
Minimum Bill: $29.40, which includes the first 1,000 gallons.
Bill per 1,000 gallons thereafter: $12.29 per 1,000 gallons.
Per annum rate of an additional 3% of the minimum and per one thousand gallons with such rate increase being effective at the beginning of each fiscal year.
If and in the event any sewer bill remains unpaid for a period of in excess of 20 days, the same shall be subject to being plugged or removed by the City without notice to the customer. If and in the event any service is disconnected or removed by the city there will be a re-connection fee of $400.00 for customers inside the city limits and $2,000.00 for customers connected to a water system outside the city limits in addition to payment of all outstanding sewer bills prior to said service being re-connected. Further, after the tenth of each month there will be a late charge of 10% added to any unpaid sewer bill.
WATER RATES
Beginning February 1, 2026 the following rates will be charged for water and will be billed to the customers of the water system in a single unified statement.
Minimum Bill: $17.39 for any meter less than 1 inch, which includes the first 1,000 gallons of water.
Minimum Bill: $32.00 for any meter 1 inch or larger on non-residential, which includes the first 1,000 gallons of water.
Bill per 1,000 gallons thereafter: $6.31 per 1,000 gallons
Per annum rate of an additional 3% of the minimum and per one thousand gallons with such rate increase being effective at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Bulk Rate: There will be a bulk rate of $6.31 per 1,000 gallons or portion thereof.
Bulk Sales are defined as all sales of water made to individual users which require a temporary connection to the water system of the City of Dover, and which does not require use of the City’s sewer system. In addition to the above rates for bulk water, there shall be a $75.00 connection fee and a $25.00 per week rental fee for the use of the City’s meter if the same is required to be in place for more than twenty-four hours for any bulk purchase. All bulk sales are subject to availability of water and shall not be made if the same shall diminish the City’s reserve or will affect the City’s ability to provide adequate water to existing users.
Any residence, business, or other customer of the City of Dover water system having a second or auxiliary meter will be charged the minimum monthly fee per additional meter for each and every month said meter(s) is (are) in place. On the additional meter, all water used over the initial 1,000 gallons per month will be charged at the rates shown in Section 1 above. Upon reinstallation of a pulled meter, there will be a $40.00 reinstallation fee charged.
SECTION 2: If an in the event any water bill remains unpaid for a period of in excess of 20 days the same shall be subject to being disconnected or locked by the City without notice to the customer. If an in the event any meter is disconnected or locked by the City, the following reconnection fees shall be required:
- The first time a customer’s water meter is locked off, the reconnection fee shall be $25.00
- The second time a customer’s water meter is locked off, the reconnection fee shall be $50.00
- The third and all subsequent times a customer’s water meter is locked off, the reconnection fee shall be $75.00
The customer shall pay reconnection fees and outstanding water bills prior to said meter being reconnected or unlocked by the City. Further, after the tenth of each month there will be a late charge of 10% added to any unpaid water bill.
If a lock is broken on the customer’s water meter, a fee of $40.00 shall be assessed to the customer.
SECTION 3: The City Council hereby approves and implements the following other fees associated with the City’s water and sewer system:
- Plumbing Permit Fee. The fee charged to the customer for a plumbing permit fee is $60.00.
- Gas Permit Increase. The fee charged to the customer for a gas permit fee is $45.00.
- Back Flow Test Fee. The fee charged to the customer for back flow test is $60.00
SECTION 4: Deposits.
- For every new water and sewer account opened by a landowner, the landowner shall be charged a refundable deposit of $40.00 for water and $40.00 for sewer.
- For every new water and sewer account opened by a renter, the renter shall be charged a refundable deposit of $80.00 for water and $80.00 for sewer.
SECTION 5: Water Connection Fees
The fee for a connection/tap into the Dover water system is set at seven-hundred dollars ($700.00) per meter, regardless of whether the standard connection is inside or outside the city limits of the City of Dover, Arkansas so long as the City is able to service additional users. Further, the connection/tap fee shall not include any other necessary expenses incurred by the City associated with making the connection such as, but not limited to, backhoe fees and the tapping fee for connection over 5/8 shall be $700.00 plus the cost of materials in excess of the $700.00 tapping fee. Any line extension from the point of connection necessary to provide services shall be the responsibility of the individual or entity requesting the connection and the expense thereof shall be by the individuals or entity making the connection.
SECTION 6: Sewer Connection Fees
The fee for a standard connection/tap to the Dover Sewer system is four hundred and fifty dollars ($450.00) whether residential or commercial. No person or entity outside the city limits of Dover receiving water from any water system other than the City of Dover water system shall be permitted to connect to the City of Dover sewer system. Further, the connection/tap fees, above a standard 4 inch, set forth herein shall not include any other necessary expenses incurred by the City associated with making the connection/tap such as, but not limited to, backhoe fees. Any line extension from the point of connection necessary to provide services shall be the responsibility of the person or entity requesting the line extension or connection and the expense thereof shall be the responsibility of the person or entity requesting the line extension or connection.
SECTION 7: Ordinance No. 2022-2 and Ordinance No. 2022-3 are hereby repealed. Additionally, all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
