Customers in several townships in Lebanon County will see an increase in the line item marked “billing charge” when they receive their next water and sewer bills.
The board of the City of Lebanon Authority voted unanimously Monday, Oct. 9, to raise the fee for the billing services it provides to South Annville, North Cornwall, and West Cornwall townships. North Lebanon Township residents who had to switch to public water because of on-lot septic problems will see the fee for the first time.
The new charge is $4, an increase of $1.50 from the previous charge. It is the first increase since COLA set the charge in 2014, said Jon Beers, COLA executive director.
“Wages have gone up, postage has gone,” Beers said. “Our costs really are at $4 a bill.”
COLA got into the bill-preparation service in 2012 when a couple of municipal authorities without staff requested assistance. The service includes not only printing and mailing the bills, collection of payments and entering payments into customers’ accounts but also producing payment and non-payment reports for the municipality, Beers said.
Municipal customers sometimes are surprised to receive a bill on City of Lebanon Authority letterhead for a service that they had paid to their townships for many years. They still are paying their townships as all of the money — with the exception of the billing charge and any late fees — is turned over to the municipality, Beers said.
In other business, the board welcomed new member Brad Longenecker, who was appointed by Mayor Sherry Capello on Oct. 5 to fill the term of long-time board member Gary T. Matthew, who died unexpectedly in July.
A local Realtor and long-time county resident, Longenecker has experience in accounting and human resources.
Bids for improvements to the wastewater treatment plant will be awarded at the board’s November meeting, Beers said.
COLA has an approved loan from PennVEST for $22.5 million for the improvements.
The City of Lebanon Authority Board meets at 2311 Ridgeview Road, Lebanon, on the second Monday of each month at 3 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, Nov. 13. These meetings are open to the public and do not require registration.
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