A. All charges for sewage collection system service and/or sewage disposal system service as provided in this chapter, or as may be hereafter amended, shall be billed in conjunction with the water bills.

B. In the event that any fees or charges assessed for such services are not paid within the date set forth on the billing for such services, they shall be considered delinquent and shall automatically constitute a lien against the property to which the services were rendered. In accordance with the provisions of RCW 35.67.215, said sewerage lien shall be effective for a total not to exceed one year’s delinquent services charges without the necessity of any writing or recording of the lien with the county auditor. Unpaid charges for sewerage may be assessed interest at six percent per annum.

C. Any delinquency in payment of said sewage charges or water charges shall be just cause for cutting off the water service from the premises where such services are provided until such time as all lienable charges, plus any applicable penalties, together with the charge for turning back on the domestic water, have been paid. The superintendent of the water department is authorized, at the end of forty-five days after the date of first delinquency in payment of domestic water and/or sewage service charges, to cut off the water service pursuant to this section.

D. Payments received by the city for municipal services shall be applied in the following order:

E. The city may obtain a sewerage lien for a period exceeding one year if the city treasurer or clerk shall cause to be filed for record in the office of the auditor of Skagit county a notice in substantially the following form:

Sewerage lien notice

City of Anacortes

vs

... Reputed owner.

Notice is hereby given that the city of Anacortes has and claims a lien for sewer charges against the following described premises situated in Skagit county, Washington to wit:

(Here insert legal description of the premises)

Said lien is claimed for exceeding twelve months such charges and interest now delinquent, amount to $ ..., and is also claimed for future sewerage charges against said premises.

Dated ...

City of Anacortes

By ...

The lien notice will be signed by the city treasurer or clerk and shall be recorded as prescribed for the recording of mechanics' liens.

F. If a lien is obtained pursuant to this section, there shall be assessed against the account an amount equal to all costs and fees associated with obtaining, recording, and satisfying the lien. The city will provide a lien release only after all charges on the account (including recording and lien fees) are paid in full. Any lien pursuant to this section takes priority over all subsequently filed liens except for those liens for general taxes and local improvement assessments.

G. Any lien obtained pursuant to this section may be recorded in conjunction with any garbage lien prepared pursuant to section 8.04.400 AMC. (Ord. 3045 § 1, 2019; Ord. 2971 § 2, 2016; Ord. 1150 § 19, 1954)