Resident: More Notice Should Have Been Given of Sewer Bill Changes

In March, the township changed an ordinance to allow for to be made only once a year, rather than three times, and bills were sent out accordingly for June 1 payments—but some residents were surprised to get the notice.

Peach Tree Road resident Leslie Thompson questioned the change at the May 12 township council meeting, saying she was shocked to receive a $400 bill that has to be paid by June 1.

“I received the letter about the sewer bill and was wondering why it’s only three weeks until it is due,” she said. “It’s tough out there now, and we can’t always come up with the normal $140 payments, but now it’s $400.”

The township’s ordinance was changed recently to eliminate two of the three payments made throughout the year, eliminating April and September and requiring that the entire bill be paid in June.

This change was made in response to fewer workers in the township because of budget issues and the need to have jobs more consolidated.

But Thompson said she and her neighbors were unaware of the change.

“We received a letter Tuesday that it was going to once-a-year billing and the township wants it all due by June 1,” she said in a separate interview. “I thought that it was not enough time to come up with the $400.”

Thompson said she called the township’s billing department and was told the change was made by an ordinance approved through the township council.

But Thompson said she was disturbed that there was no advance warning, and she wishes the township had sent out a letter informing of the change.

Township administrator Robert Bogart said information about the change was posted on the township’s website, sent out in the township’s newsletter and posted in other ways.

Thompson said she does not normally look at the website and does not receive the newsletter so she did not know about the change, and is concerned about people who may not be able to put the money together quickly.

“A lot of neighbors are having the same concerns, there are senior citizens and people out of work,” she said. “We always get a grace period of about 10 days with the bill, but I still think it was a little bit short notice.”

“I just want them to realize it was irresponsible,” she added. “We are going to have to come up with the money somehow.”