Sec. 26. (a) After the introduction of the ordinance establishing fees under section 25 of this chapter, but before it is finally adopted, the municipal legislative body shall hold a public hearing at which users of the sewage works, owners of property served or to be served by the works, and other interested persons may be heard concerning the proposed fees. Notice of the hearing, setting forth the proposed schedule of fees, shall be:

(1) published in accordance with IC 5-3-1;

(2) mailed to owners of vacant or unimproved property if the ordinance includes a fee for sewer availability to vacant or unimproved property; and

(3) mailed to users of the sewage works for service to property located outside the municipality's corporate boundaries.

The notice may be mailed in any form so long as the notice of the hearing is conspicuous. The hearing may be adjourned from time to time. Notice mailed under subdivision (3) must include the statement required by IC 8-1.5-3-8.1(c).

(b) After the hearing, the municipal legislative body shall adopt the ordinance establishing the fees, either as originally introduced or as modified. A copy of the schedule of fees adopted shall be kept on file and available for public inspection in the offices of the board and the municipal clerk. An ordinance adopted after March 31, 2012, that imposes different rates and charges on users of the works for service to property located outside the corporate boundaries of the municipality or to property located within the corporate boundaries of the municipality must state in plain language the percentage difference between the rates and charges, as required by IC 8-1.5-3-8.1(d).

(c) Subject to section 37 of this chapter, the fees established for any class of users or property shall be extended to cover any additional property that is subsequently served and falls within the same class, without any hearing or notice.

(d) The municipal legislative body may change or readjust the fees in the same manner by which they were established.

(e) Fees collected under this chapter are considered revenues of the sewage works.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: 19-2-5-19 part; 19-2-5-20 part.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.96. Amended by Acts 1981, P.L.45, SEC.62; P.L.77-1991, SEC.4; P.L.114-2008, SEC.30; P.L.139-2012, SEC.5.