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Safe Room Available: Located in the North East Corner of the Walton Fire Dept.


 The Fire Board has established the followings rules, see below. These are the events that will happen before the safe room will be opened. The national Weather service will issue a tornado watch. 8-10 hours out on the days that tornadoes are likely. When and if a thunderstorm warning is issued the storm spotters will be activated and the safe room will be opened at that time. Individuals wishing to use the safe room during a storm event should please follow the rules  and be courteous of others. If you are planning on using the safe room and have special needs, get ahold of the city office and leave your name and number, and the Fire Chief will get back with you to discuss these needs beforehand, so that we are prepared for you. 

Community Interest

Safe Room Rules:
1.NO TOBACCO OF ANY KIND
2.NO ALCOHOL
3.NO PETS
4.NO PROFANITY
5.NO WEAPONS
6.NO ILLICIT DRUGS
7.CHILDREN MUST BE KEPT UNDER CONTROL BY PARENTS
8.EACH PERSON WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING SHELTER CLEAN
9.NOISE SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM
10.ONCE INSIDE THE SHELTER YOU MUST REMAIN THERE UNTIL SAFE ROOM MANAGER SAYS ITS SAFE TO RETURN HOME
11.ONLY ONE SMALL BAG WILL BE ALLOWED BY EACH OCCUPANT
12.EACH PERSON IN THE SHELTER IS EXPECTED TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT INTERFERE, OR CAUSE PROBLEMS, FOR THE OTHER OCCUPANTS.
13.ANY PROBLEMS INSIDE THE SHELTER SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE SAFE ROOM MANAGER IMMEDIATELY.
14.ANY SPECIAL NEEDS SHOULD BE PRE-ARRANGED, AND CAN BE DONE BY SITE COORDINATOR.
15.ALL OCCUPANTS WILL OBEY SHELTER MANAGERS INSTRUCTIONS WHIILE INSIDE SHELTER. ANYONE NOT COMPLYING WITH THE ORDERS MAY BE EXPELLED OR ARRESTED.
16.PLEASE PARK ON MAIN STREET, OR BEHIND RESTAURANT

CLEAN NEIGHBORS MAKE BETTER NEIGHBORS:

 

  1. Keep grass and vegetation on your property mowed-including street, terrace, alley adjacent to your property.
  2. Keep your property free and clear of junk, trash and debris
  3. Remove all inoperable, untagged or junk vehicles from your property or store them inside an enclosed garage.
  4. Keep doors, windows, screens and paint on your home in good repair.
  5. Keep sidewalks adjacent to your property in good repair and clear of vegetation. No raised sections over ½”.
  6. Keep trees trimmed and free of dead limbs that might fall and cause injury.
  7. Keep sidewalks, street gutters-culverts and alley adjacent to your property free of weeds, dirt, debris and grass.
  8. Pick up and dispose of animal feces.  Regularly clean pen and dog shelter.
  9. Keep meter areas clear of vegetation, ice, trash and animal feces. 


If the City has to cut weeds or remove junk/debris/vehicles, the property owner will be charged the current city rate for labor and equipment used in clearing your property. This expense may be attached to property taxes as well.

Utility Service Policy:( New Utility Applications and Payment Agreements are located under Forms tab)


Service Application: Only the owner of the real property may request utility service, and the account shall be in the name of the owner.

Exceptions are made to rental properties, the leasee may put the utilities in their name with the direction of the landlord.The landlord may request to have an additional copy of the bill sent directly to them.


Service Deposit:        Gas: $100             Water $50         to be paid by property owner, or by tenant pursuant to deposit waiver signed by landlord. The deposit shall be applied to the final amount due at the time of discontinuation of services or 365 days, whichever is less. When service is discontinued, said deposit will be deducted from the unpaid balance and the remaining deposit is due to the customer. The customer shall be responsible to pay the City any balance due.


Meter Reading Procedure: Meters will be read and re-read between the 25th and 27th of every month.


Billing Procedure: Bills will be generated and mailed no later than the 5th of every month. The balance due for each customer shall fall due on the 20th of each month for the bill generated during the last calendar month.


Late Fee Assessed: Any balance remaining unpaid beyond the 20th of the month, will be assessed a late charge of 10%, the next business day, compounded monthly upon that same date for the entire balance due.


Shut Off Policy & Procedure:  if any utility bill is not paid by the end of the calendar month in which it was initially due, a delinquency and termination notice shall be issued(mailed), containing the following information:

  1. The amount due on the unpaid balance plus late fees.
  2. Notice that service will be terminated in five (5) business days if the bill remains unpaid.


Upon shut off a notice of termination will be personally served at the service address. A service fee of $30 will be assessed to the account holder for disconnection. If service is terminated because of non-payment of the bill and is thereafter paid in full including late fees and applicable service charges , services to premises may be reinstated upon the payment of a reconnection fee of $30 for each service both inside and outside City limits.


Meter Tampering: The City of Walton reserves the right to remove, repair or replace any meter at any time it deems necessary. Meters shall be repaired and replaced from time to time as deemed necessary in order to ensure their accuracy. If a meter fails to register or under-registers for any cause other than tampering, the charge for the water shall be based on the average amount registered by the meter when in order for similar billing periods, using available billing records. Charges will be calculated covering the probable use period over which the meter was not registering correctly. All repairs or injuries to meters from freezing, hot water, or external causes shall be charged to the consumer. No person shall change, or tamper in any way, with the water and gas meters. All settings and repairs will be made by the City Department personnel. Tampering with a meter will result in up to a $1,000 fine. Should there be evidence of tampering which has resulted in reduced water bills or damage, the City shall calculate a charge based on the two highest uses for the winter and summer billing periods over the past 5 years, or available records, and adjust the bills to these usage amounts for the period of probable reduced water bills. In addition, the user will be charged for staff time spent to address the matter, the cost of a replacement meter if required, as well as a fine of $200 per billing cycle where meter tampering led to a reduced bill. If tampering causes damage then the property owner will be responsible for all repair, materials, penalties and staffing before service is restored.

Property owner must schedule a time with city staff in order to restore or turn off services, if they are working on a repair.


Cold Weather Rule: The City of Walton is not subject to the State's Cold Weather Rules. However, every effort will be made to work with customers to avoid gas shut off during cold weather.

TO ASK QUESTIONS OR REGISTER A COMPLAINT:(See Forms tab for associated paperwork)

 
Do you have questions about zoning, building, contractor licensing, property maintenance, etc.?   Call the city during regular office hours. 620-837-3252 

All Contractors working in Walton must be licensed by the City.  Building permits are often required. Call City for details

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 When you have a complaint about a property,  make time to ask the owner about it.  Polite personal contact often gets positive results.  Offer to help out if you’re able.
 
If talking to the owner doesn’t help, call the City to make a formal complaint. 
 
Once your complaint is verified, the City will send a letter to the owner asking them to address the issue. If there is no satisfactory response, the City Council may issue a Resolution requiring the owner to abate the condition.  After 30-days, if still not resolved, the Council may issue a second Resolution requiring the owner to abate the condition and allowing local law enforcement to initiate clean-up of the property.  The City may contract an outside party to remove offensive debris, car, and vegetation.  The “tab” is sent to the property owner and added to property tax.
 
It can take up to 60-days for the city to properly address your complaint.  This process is slow, but ensures the owner has adequate time and notice to abate the condition on his/her own. 
  

NO ONE LOVES YOUR PET AS MUCH AS YOU!( See Forms tab for Dog Complaints)
 
Pit bulls, mix and other aggressive breeds are not allowed in Walton.  Owning a pet means you are responsible for it at all times.  Pets need a clean sheltered area, exercise, food, water and TLC.  Walton requires animals always be restrained by leash or barrier.   Please exercise your pet regularly and keep its area clean. 
 
You are required to register pets annually with the City.  Cost is minimal.  You’ll need proof of current rabies vaccination.

 Please understand not everyone likes dogs and cats.  Be respectful of your neighbors’ choices.  Keep pets restrained and on your property. Ensure they remain tolerably quiet and don’t act in a threatening way. 

 If you have a concern about an animal not being properly cared for, call the City office.  Your concern will be investigated.  Unfortunately, the only legal requirements are to have shelter, food and clean water.  If these basic needs are met, no matter how poorly, the City doesn’t have authority to remove an animal unless it is clearly injured, abused, or threatening.
 

RECYCLING AND REFUSE:(See Forms tab for the current schedule)

 

  1. Trash is picked up every Friday (some holidays result in Saturday pick up).
  2.  Brush and downed limbs may be taken to the City burn pile on N. Woodlawn. Contact City Clerk for key to gate.
  3.  Walton has a citywide clean up twice each year.  Watch for dates.  Contact the City if you are setting out large appliances, furniture or tires. Do not include brush.
  4. Recycling is picked up every other Friday
  5. Please wash all items thoroughly.  You do not need to remove labels, tape or staples.


 
Items that can be recycled are:

Newspaper, paper, magazines, catalogs & phone books
Cereal, Kleenex, shoe or gift boxes
Corrugated cardboard, flattened
 Plastics with a    1   or a    2
Flattened foil, aluminum cans
Flattened food/juice cans
Glass bottles and jars. Please do not include broken glass.

Other items may be recycled as follows;

Cell phones, household batteries- City Office

Tires- Most tire vendors accept old tires-also the Harvey Co. Landfill. Both ask a small fee.
Paint, electronics, and motor oil are accepted at the Harvey Co. Transfer Station