Legal Documents of Gatlinburg

Each prospective customer desiring water service will be required to sign a standard form of contract before service is supplied. Customers requiring the installation of special equipment by the department may be required to sign a form of contract guaranteeing a minimum charge for such period of time as may be agreed upon between the department and customer. If, for any reason, a customer, after signing a contract for water service, does not take the service by reason of not occupying the premises or otherwise, he shall reimburse the municipality for the expense incurred by reason of its endeavor to furnish said service.

Whenever an application is made for service to premises concerning which the department knows there is a dispute as to the ownership or the right of occupancy, and one or more of the claimant's attempts to prevent such service being furnished, the department reserves the right to adopt either one of the following alternative courses:

1. To treat the applicant in actual possession of the premises to be served as being entitled to such service, irrespective of the rights or claims of other persons.
2. To withhold service, pending a judicial or other settlement of the rights of the various claimants. (1976 Code, § 13-104)