No warning on town office change

Dear Editor,

After celebrating Thanksgiving, surviving Black Friday and attending church over the weekend, my husband and I have a brief moment to catch our breaths on Monday. We pay our bills and look ahead to see what is left over for the month when we realize we have no water bill. Did we misplace it? Is it on the fridge where we keep it so we remember to pay it on the first? We looked high and low and realized we never got a bill so we wrote out the check and made the trip to the usual drop-off location. 

I went into the office to inform the staff that we received no bill and to hand in the check. I look down at the counter only to see a paper in place of the small basket that states that the water district office has moved. Stunned, I looked up and noticed a woman had approached when she saw my confusion. I had a nice conversation with the staff and discovered that many people did not receive a bill, nor did they receive notice of a location change. Not only was she kind enough to give me the information that I was not alone in this debacle but to direct me to the new location so I could pay my bill on time.

Upon arriving at the new location, I found the doors locked with a note on the door. I noticed a box attached to the wall of the building so I deposited my payment there. As I was leaving, a man approaches, asking if this is the right place for the water district. We talk and find out our stories are the same; no bill, no notice, a trip to the normal payment location, and he informed me that he went to pay online and an extra charge of $3 would be added to his bill so he opted to pay by check. 

Later that day I got my mail and found my water bill with a letter from the water district. The letter was dated Nov. 22 and the postmark was Nov. 23, with its arrival on Dec. 2. I don’t know why the water district waited until the last minute to send out notices and bills but I hope they waive the late fees for those who didn’t realize their bills didn’t arrive on time. In the letter they state, “There should not be a change in the monthly water bill you receive.” The word that scares me is the word “should” as I would expect the rates to remain the same as they have already increased by $3 per month or $36 per year. 

Maybe it would be wise for concerned customers to attend the board meeting on Thursday, Dec 19 (note they did not list a time). I figure the water district has never heard the saying from the Army that states, “ Prior planning prevents piss poor performance.” Maybe they should adopt this motto to help with customer satisfaction and a smooth transition. I do wish Mike Dellos a wonderful retirement; you deserve it.

Terri Hobmeier

Basin