Posted by: Bethany on 01/30/2008 12:42 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 01/31/2008 08:14 AM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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CCWD to Move Forward with Plans for New Billing Procedures (Wednesday CCWD meeting re-cap included) ~ By Bethany Monk
San Andreas, C.A…. Calaveras County Water District plans to move from a bi-monthly billing plan for CCWD customers to a monthly plan, which will cost the district more than $30,000 each year….
Doug Wilson, CCWD customer service supervisor,
addresses the board regarding benefits for implem-
enting a monthly billing plan.
In the long-run, the monthly billing program may help a higher percentage of customers pay their bills on time and may save the district money, according to Steve Hutchings, CCWD district engineers. Board members discussed the issue during their special meeting Wednesday, Jan. 30 in the district board room, and agreed to move forward with the district's goal to devise a monthly billing program.
CCWD currently pays $42,000 annually to produce a total of 6,250 statements sent out every other month to their customers. According to Lynn Gentry, CCWD auditor-controller, moving to a monthly billing plan will cost the district $74,256 to send out 12,500 statements per month.
Benefits for the change, according to Gentry’s presentation, include:
1.Helping customers to budget their utility service payments
2.Allowing customers and CCWD staff to recognize and address billing issues more quickly.
3.Encouraging water conservation.
The district is also planning to devise a lockbox service, which will allow customers to pay their CCWD bills through a bank electronic feed. Online bill payment, and an updated billing statement are also in the works.
In other CCWD news, the board unanimously approved both the Mid-Year Budget Review, and the request to amend resolution 2007-58, Mitigation of Development Impact upon District Water and Wastewater Facilities.
In a 4-1 vote, the board agreed to take action on the Water Supply Assessment for the Sawmill Lake Project in Copper Cove. CCWD Director Ed Rich abstained from voting on this item.
Last but not least, board members agreed to further discuss and come up with a plan to possibly allow CCWD to financially assist the Parks Commission with state grant funding to be used for parks on district properties. Some of these park projects include additional recreation facilities at White Pines Lake; the use of about 25 acres at the Wastewater Treatment Plant for a regional park and possible soccer fields in Valley Springs that would use a reclaimed water irrigation system. CCWD Director Rich Davidson presented this request to the board, and members agreed to work together to help get the projects started and completed before the state grant money is lost.
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