The change is an interim move as Miamisburg works to implement an electronic message system targeted for 2020, officials said.
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“The end goal is to try to get notification to customers quickly. And the postcard system is really a transition,” Miamisburg Finance Director Jennifer Johns said.
The electronic notices are not “something you can just do overnight,” Johns said. “So in the meantime, before the electronic notification can happen, we’re going to do the yellow postcards and just go ahead and send those in the mail.”
The postcards will save money and be more efficient, she said, as distributing the door hangers consumes about four to six hours a month of public works department employees.
The change “frees up their time and helps us here in billing,” Johns said, noting that it will be “not as much as a stigma for people to get a red door hangar” for late payments.
The city is asking water and sewer customers who haven’t done so already to contact its utility billing office to provide a current email address and telephone number to receive an electronic second billing notification.
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The city has not announced a date as the goal to start the electronic system. It will depend, Johns said, as how quickly customer information can be collected and stored.
“We’ll probably shoot for first quarter,” she said. “But it might be the second quarter before we can get it done.”
Currently for late-paying customers, paper notices were sent out as a “courtesy,” Johns said. Failure to pay or contact the city about setting up a payment plan results in a second notice before a fee is assessed.
Further failure on the part of customers leads to disconnecting service, which occurs to about 30 or more customers a month, Johns said..
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Miamisburg customers have the following options for paying utility bills, according to the city:
• Via U.S. mail with remittance (please allow seven business days).
• In person at 10 N. First Street (cash or credit card).
• Online with a credit card (ci.miamisburg.oh.us - click on Water Bill Options).
• Telephone with a credit card (847-6460).
• Automatic ACH debit from bank account (please provide a voided check).
For more questions, call (937) 847-6460 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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