Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Cresson residents will soon have a shorter window to pay their water and trash bills without incurring a penalty fee.
Cresson City Council voted unanimously on April 26 to shorten the current grace period on the payments from 10 to five days.
The decision was made as an incentive to encourage residents to pay their bills on time.
“We're just trying to get it where folks are really feeling encouraged to pay their bill, and it's hard, but here's the good news — our staff works with the folks that take the time to call in and make payment arrangements,” Mayor Teena Putteet-Conway said in the City Council meeting. “If you keep your word and you're calling into the city, they're more than happy to work with you.”
Shane Shearman, municipal clerk, said water has been shut off in as many as 40 homes in a month caused by residents’ inability to pay their bills on time.
In Cresson Proper and Bluebonnet Hills, there are approximately 400 water meters, with late fees being added to “at least 120 of those accounts in a typical month,” according to City Secretary Katy Froyd.
“We have tried to call folks in advance. We've tried the late notice in the bill itself,” Putteet-Conway said.
Cresson's current late fee of $20 and a 10-day grace period is lenient compared to the cities of Granbury and Hudson Oaks, both of which have no grace period and a higher penalty fee, according to research conducted by Froyd.
During the meeting, Putteet-Conway reminded residents that Cresson City Hall stays open until 3 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month to accommodate those trying to get their bill paid.
“I often say that our municipal clerk can make you feel good about paying your water bill when you don't have any money in your account,” she said, with a chuckle.
When a resident’s water gets turned off due to a late payment, they normally will have to pay a $20 late fee, plus a $25 reconnection fee, but Shearman said City Hall will work with residents.
“We understand people's hardships. I'm one of those people, and we sometimes put the reconnection fee on to the current bill of the month to help people out,” Shearman said. “I think (shortening the grace period) will encourage people to maybe call in sooner to set up their payment arrangements to where they don’t get (their water) turned off."
