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Welcome to the City of La Plata, MO
Utility Service Fact Sheet

SECURITY DEPOSITS: Each customer is required to make a deposit for each meter of service. The deposit for residential water is $200.00, residential electricity is $200.00, and sewer $100.00 (HOMEOWNER). The deposit for residential water is $250.00, residential electricity is $250.00,  and sewer $100.00 (RENTER).  Commercial water deposits are $250.00, commercial electric deposits are $300.00 and sewer deposit of $100.00. A utility deposit is required before service is connected.  When utility services are discontinued, the amount due will be charged against the customer’s deposit and any remaining balance refunded. If a balance remains on the final bill (after deposits), balance will be due upon disconnection.  Credit refunds will be issued to homeowners and business owners in good standing with the City for at least the preceding twelve (12) months of service.  The refund will be applied as a credit on the current utility account.

CONNECTION OF UTILITIES:  Connection of water/sewer utilities that have not had service for one year or longer are required to have a sewer inspection by our water/sewer superintendent.

BILLING PROCEDURES: Meter readings are generally recorded around the 25th of each month.  However, extenuating circumstances may require adjustments to the billing schedule.  If the city is unable to obtain actual meter reading an estimated utility bill will be computed utilizing historical data from the previous twelve (12) months.  Customers not receiving their utility bill on or before the 5th of each month should contact city hall.   A 10% penalty is charged on any balance after the 20th of the month and service is disconnected at 1:00 p.m. on the last working day of the month if payment in full isn’t received by noon. Payments may be mailed, brought to City Hall Monday thru Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or deposited in the drop box, located on the east side of the building. When the 20th falls on a holiday or weekend, payment must be received by mail or in person before the holiday or weekend.  Payments will be accepted in the drop box until 8:00 a.m. on the morning of the next scheduled business day following the holiday or weekend.  All payments after the prescribed times are considered delinquent and the penalty amount will be applied!

WATER LEAK ADJUSTMENTS: The City Ordinances provide for a water leak adjustment to be given each customer.
Eligibility will be determined by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES: Should any member of your family have a medical problem which would cause a medical emergency if utility service has to be curtailed for any reason, you must notify City Hall at the time you sign up for service. This information must be listed on the application form and a physician’s statement must be provided to City Hall to validate the information.

METER ACCESSIBILITY: NO electric or water meter may be enclosed within a porch, fence, or pen of any kind. Meters must be accessible at all times to city employees.

DOG REGULATIONS:  NO dog may be tied or penned around a water or electric meter. Meters must be accessible to city employees at all times. In accordance with City Code 205.030, all dogs within the City of La Plata, Missouri, are to be kept from running at large at all times. City Code 205.040 regulates dogs proven vicious as to certain rules and regulations. This and all ordinances may be seen upon request in the office of the City Clerk.

DISCONNECTION & RECONNECTION OF SERVICES:
The City of La Plata may disconnect service to a customer for one of more of the following reasons:
  1. Nonpayment of a delinquent account.
  2. The return of a check by a financial institution, which was given for payment of a utility bill.
  3. Failure to post a security deposit
  4. Unauthorized interference, diversion, or use of the utility service situated or delivered on or about the customer’s premises.
  5. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of a settlement agreement.
  6. Refusal to grant access at reasonable times to equipment installed upon the premises of the customer for the purpose of inspection, meter reading, maintenance, or replacement.
  7. Misrepresentation of identity for the purpose of obtaining utility services.
  8. Violation of any other rules of the utility on file, which adversely affect the safety of the customer or other persons or the integrity of the utilities delivery system.

CONDITIONS OF RECONNECTION:  Upon the customer’s request, the City of La Plata shall restore service promptly when the cause of disconnection of service has been eliminated and applicable restoration charges have been paid. At all
times, a reasonable effort will be made to restore service upon the day restoration is requested, and in any event, restoration will be made no later than the next working day following the day requested by the customer. A $25.00, per utility, reconnect fee is charged during regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday, except holidays. After working hours and on holidays, a charge for the utility worker’s call out fee (1 ½ x hourly salary at 2 hour minimum) will be assessed in addition to the regular reconnect fee.

UTILITY CALL OUT POLICY:  A charge for the utility worker’s call out fee (1 ½ x hourly salary at 2 hour minimum) will be assessed the customer for each after hours call out, if it is determined to be the customer’s problem. Utility working hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

RETURNED CHECKS:  A fee of $25.00 will be charged for all returned checks. Any check which is returned to the City of La Plata after the monthly shut off date will be considered as  lack of payment and utility service will be disconnected immediately. In order to have service reconnected, the customer will have to pay the returned check fee as well as the reconnect charges by cash, money order, or cashier’s check. The City of La Plata reserves the right to require all future payments due to them in the form of cash, money order, or cashier’s check once a returned check has been received.

TRASH PICK UP:  Trash pick up is available to both residential and commercial customers. Trash is to be set next to the curb and must be bagged, boxed, or tied in bundles. No dirt, cement, batteries, used oil; tires, building materials, yard waste or barrels will be dumped. No appliances may be dumped. There are two bulk pick-ups held each year -- one in the fall and one in the spring. Specific dates for the bulk pick-ups will be posted at City Hall. At this time, the refuse company will take anything that two (2) men can carry. Residential rates are $16.61 per month and commercial rates are $27.11 per month (adjusted periodically for fuel surcharge by Waste Management Services). The refuse company also offers several sizes of dumpsters which can be serviced either once or twice a week. Please contact our office about dumpster prices if you are interested. Trash is picked up each Monday unless otherwise posted due to holidays. All trash must be out by 6:00 a.m. in order for pick up to be guaranteed.

E-BILL/E-PAY: Your utility bill may be paid online.  Go to the home page of this website and register.  Remember all payments made after 3:00 p.m. will be on the next day’s business.  Please plan accordingly as far as penalty dates and disconnection day.

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
All emergency calls which require the services of ambulance, fire personnel, or police should be
directed to the Macon County 911 Dispatch by dialing 911!

Mark Twain Wireless Internet – 1.877.682.2835
Century Tel DSL Internet – 1.888.267.6521
Century Tel Telephone – 1.800.201.4099
Sparklight (formerly Cableone) – 1.660.665.7066
Liberty Utilities- Customer Service 1-855-872-3242
Liberty Emergency Gas – 1.855.644.8134
Waste Management Services – 1.800.778.7652
La Plata Elementary – 660.332.7003
La Plata Jr. High & Sr. High – 660.332.7001
La Plata Post Office – 660.332.4344
La Plata Police Dept. (non-emergency) - 660.651.7452
La Plata City Hall – 660.332.7166

DIAL 911 FOR ALL EMERGENCIES
Revised 03/24/22