BELLE — Belle aldermen on Jan. 17 added another section to Ordinance 651, previously Ordinance 645, to allow the city to charge a base water rate to residences without meters and outline landlord responsibilities to begin and cancel services.

According to Ordinance 645, revising section 705.310: Landlords to notify city clerk of change n tenancy-responsible for delinquent bills by adding Section 3.

Section 3 allows, “Landlords who choose not to install meters for multiple units on one meter built prior to Jan. 1, 2025. The city will create accounts for each unit and set the unit up in the renter’s name.

The revised ordinance outlines the landlord’s responsibilities, including:

The landlord is responsible for letting the city know when an apartment becomes vacant, within five days of the tenant moving out. If a landlord fails to notify the city in five business days, the landlord will be responsible for that unit’s bill.

When a unit is vacant, the city will make that unit inactive in the billing system, no one will be responsible for a bill while it is vacant.

The renter will be required to pay a deposit of $100 which will have their final bill deducted from, before refunding by the city.

The landlord will be given credit of 1000 gallons per unit and will be charged an overage rate of water at the current rate per meter reading.

The landlord will be promptly notified of any unpaid balance at the end of the month.

Changes to Ordinance 651 were approved with a 4-0 vote.