Water bills remain an issue in Wintersville
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WINTERSVILLE -- Frustration with utility bills that continue to be delivered late or not all continues to grow among members of Village Council.
Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi and council President Randy Spence detailed their continuing efforts to find a resolution to the problem during Thursday’s meeting.
Each month, Kosegi explained during the meeting, the village spends about $783 to mail out between 1,600 and 1,700 water bills. They’re delivered in a crate to the Steubenville post office and then sent to the Pittsburgh Processing and Distribution Center, sorted and then returned for delivery.
While it’s been the normal procedure for mail generated here for several years, a number of bills meant for village residents never make it back to be delivered-- and, as council learned during the Sept. 17 meeting, some have ended up somewhere else, like Raymond, Ill. The village had received an envelope from officials there containing some utility bills, one of which was addressed to Councilwoman Gael Damron.
Kosegi and Spence said they have spoken with local and regional officials from the Postal Service about the issue, adding they are aware of the problem. Spence said he has been told that it is an issue at the processing center.
While they are continuing to discuss the issue with the Postal Service and hope it can be resolved soon, Kosegi and Mayor Mike Petrella said that even if they don’t receive a bill, village residents know when their payments are due and can take advantage of automatic payment options and e-billing. They can make a payment over the phone by contacting the utility office.
Kosegi said there are 186 village residents enrolled in the e-billing system and added that he has helped several residents set up e-billing and automatic payments, and will continue to do so. Employees in the utility office can help and have sent copies of bills by e-mail to residents who call and say they did not receive them. The department, he added, is going above and beyond to help residents with their payments.
What the village won’t do, he said, is waive late charges for residents who claim they did not receive a bill.
Spence suggested residents who did not receive a bill or received it late and were hit with late charges to pay the entire bill and then seek reimbursement from the Postal Service.
Also Thursday, council members passed a resolution authorizing Petrella to enter into the contract with Cronin Enterprises Civil and Rail of Imperial for the Cadiz Road rehabilitation project. Once the village receives final approval from the EPA, a pre-construction meeting will be held and work can begin, Petrella explained after the meeting.
Kosegi said that the village has received 200 tons of the 900 tons of road salt it purchased through a group buy involving Jefferson County and other municipalities. He added work continues on re-establishing the water connection with Steubenville, and work had been completed on the Cadiz Road sidewalk project.
In other matters:
• Council OK’d the disposal of several pieces of equipment;
• Council Approved an ordinance to accept the bid of and enter a contract with D&L Unlimited Construction for the disposal of municipal refuse;
• Petrella reported that the village received $71,183.24 in marijuana tax revenue for August;
• Council learned from Kosegi that three surplus police vehicles had been sold;
• Council heard details about catch basin repairs on Eisenhower and Meadow roads;
• Council was reminded by Petrella that village offices would be closed on Oct. 12 for Columbus Day. Sanitation will run on a normal schedule for dumpsters and businesses, he added.
• Council also was reminded that village offices will be closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day. Sanitation will run a normal schedule, he added.
• Council heard complaints from residents along Canton Road about parking and other issues at a business there;
• Petrella said trick-or-treat in the village will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.
• The mayor added that the village’s fall leaf collection will occur on the first three Mondays of November. Those whose regular trash collection is on Tuesday will have their leaves collected Nov. 2; those whose regular trash collection is on Wednesday will have their leaves collected Nov. 9; and those whose trash is picked up on Thursday or Friday will have their leaves collected Nov. 16; and
• Petrella said the village’s Christmas parade will be held at 4 p.m. Dec. 6. Groups interested in participating can contact the village office.
The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Municipal Building.