Red bills in the mail for past due water bills

By: 
STAFF REPORT

The village of Coal City sent out 200 envelopes containing red letters advising water users their bi-monthly water bill remained unpaid.
“We sent out the red bill because the due date for the water bill was actually the end of February, so on March 15 it was time for the reminder bill,” Village Administrator Matt Fritz told the Village Board last week.
The reminder bill is the final step before public works employees begin disconnecting water and sewer service and that was on the schedule for later this week.
However, at the request of Gov. JB Pritzker and under a recommendation from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to place a moratorium on utility shutoffs, the village will not be turning off water for non-payment.
The bill sent out last week was distributed without a shutoff notice and Fritz said notice must be provided prior to cutting off services.
“So we won’t be shutting off customers at the end of the this month. So that means if they’ve failed to pay they will have a previous balance when the bill goes out on April 1,” Fritz said.
The next bill is due at the end of April.
To avoid an even larger bill come next month, payments on existing balances can be made at the village hall utilizing the drop box on the south side of the building or by mail to 515 S. Broadway, Coal City.