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15, ERMU may proceed to shut-off water as an emergency shut-off under <br />Section 78-32(2) below. <br />3. Hearing Procedure. If a hearing is requested, ERMU shall hold a hearing no sooner than <br />20 days after the request for a hearing is received. Written notice of the hearing date shall be <br />given to the account holder at least 10 days before the hearing date. The hearing shall be held <br />before the ERMU Commission or a committee of the commission or a hearing officer, as <br />determined by the Commission. The hearing board/officer shall make findings of facts regarding <br />whether the account is delinquent or if shut-off is warranted for other reasons. If a finding is <br />made that shut-off is warranted, the hearing board/officer shall set a date for water shut-off, and <br />ERMU shall shut the water off no earlier than that date. <br />Sec. 78-32. Shut-Off Procedures <br />1. Non-Emergency Shut-Offs. Water shut-offs shall be done by ERMU personnel or by <br />contractors engaged by ERMU. Water will always be shut-off at the street unless the stop-valve <br />cannot be located. ERMU shall have the right to take reasonable measures, including the <br />excavation and removal of existing landscaping, driveways, sidewalks and other improvements <br />as necessary, to locate the stop-valve. If the stop-off valve cannot be located, written notice of <br />the date that ERMU needs access to the property to shut-off water will be posted on the property <br />and mailed to the account holder and any lender(s) that can be identified. On the date that water <br />is to be shut-off, the Elk River Police Department shall accompany ERMU personnel to the <br />property. If the property is not vacant, the police will advise the occupant to allow ERMU <br />personnel to enter the property to shut-off water. If the property is vacant, a locksmith will be <br />brought along to gain entry to the property and Elk River Police Department will accompany <br />ERMU into the property to shut-off the water. <br />2. Emergency Shut-Offs. ERMU shall have the right to make an emergency shut-off if <br />there is visible or other evidence that water is running and the property is either vacant or there is <br />no response from the occupant; if ERMU receives notice that electric or gas has been shut-off to <br />a property between October 15 and April 15 and the property is either vacant or there is no <br />response from the occupant; or if ERMU determines, upon inspection, that a property is vacant <br />and that there is a danger of the water service freezing. ERMU personnel shall attempt to give <br />notice to the owner or occupant prior to an emergency shut-off. Water will be shut-off <br />immediately. from the stop-valve in the street if the stop-valve can be located. If the stop-off <br />-=valve carinot be located and the property needs to be entered to shut-off the water, ERMU <br />personnel will contact the Elk River Police Department for assistance in entering the property <br />and ERMU will attempt to get a locksmith to enter the property. If it is necessary to force entry, <br />ERMU personnel will do so only with the Elk River Police Department's assistance. Neither <br />ERMU, nor the City of Elk River, nor any employee or contractor employed by ERMU or the <br />City, shall be liable to the property owner or other person or entity for any damage to the <br />property as a result of the need to force entry into the property. A notice will be mailed and <br />posted on any property where water has been shut-off without prior written notice advising that <br />the owner or occupant may request a post shut-off hearing to contest the shut-off. The post shut- <br />off hearing will follow the procedures set forth in Section 78-31(3). <br />