I spoke with Mayor Rich Blankenship Tuesday morning about the water bills that were just delivered.

He told me there was a malfunction with the computer system that automatically bills everyone.

The system, for the first time since 2011, had to estimate the December usage. All accounts were actually under-estimated. The January usage included the amount of the shortage from December.

The mayor has reviewed the billing system and has decided the only fair way to handle this issue is to allow the residents to pay the same amount as they paid in January for their December usage.

If you know that amount just pay it the usual way you always do and the bill will be adjusted when the water department receives it. You can take it to the water department to have it adjusted then pay it. You will also be allowed to pay the current bill if it is less than your December billing.

Also, you will have until Feb. 15 to pay the account without any penalties.

We all owe a big thank you to the mayor.

 

Bob Cleary

Ironton City Council