Montana § 7-3-4443 - Utility Connections

§ 7-3-4443. Utility Connections

Utility connections. (1) The director of public service may compel the making of sewer, water, gas, and other connections whenever, in view of the contemplated street improvements or as a sanitary regulation, sewer, water, gas, or other connections should in the director's judgment be constructed. (2) The director shall cause written notice of the determination to be given to the owner of each lot or parcel of land to which connections are to be made. The notice must state the number and character of connections required. The notice must be served by a person designated by the director of public service, in the manner provided for the service of summons in civil actions. Nonresidents of the municipality or persons who cannot be found may be served by one publication of the notice in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the municipality if there is a newspaper and, if not, by one publication in a weekly newspaper. The notice must state the time within which the connections must be constructed, and if they are not constructed within the time, the work may be done by the municipality and the cost of the connections, together with a penalty of 5%, assessed against the lots and lands for which the connections are made. However, the city commission may in its discretion order and direct that the cost of making any connection by the municipality may be assessed without penalty and may be paid in annual installments over a period of not to exceed 8 years, together with interest on the cost at a rate not to exceed 6% a year payable annually on the deferred payments. The assessments must be certified and collected as other assessments for street improvements. The actual work of making the connections must be done under regulations that are provided for by ordinance.