GRATIS — A data entry system issue is causing residents in the village to see incorrect dates of service on their water bills, with some then thinking they are getting cheated with fewer service dates and higher costs for service.
The problem was one topic discussed during a Thursday, Aug. 22 meeting of Gratis Village Council.
According to Gratis Water and Utility Clerk Julie Roe, village meter readers hand-read the meters, and the data is then downloaded into the system, which then shows different dates, causing confusion about the billing period.
The service dates showing up on residents’ bills are connected to the day the clerk actually downloads the data.
“The meter reader’s talking to my system, and it’s saying, okay, today is July 1, and we read meters on June 23, I downloaded on July 1, and it’s looking like we’re reading from the 22nd of the last month to the first of the next month, and we’re not. So, for the number of days, people think they’re getting cheated because the bill’s higher, but our reading dates are lower,” Roe said.
“The residents, you know their first thought is that we’re not reading correctly,” she added. “We do make it a priority to read at the same time every month.”
“I called Government Account Solutions just to make sure I understood it. And there isn’t anything we can do,” she explained, noting the one thing she can do is come in after hours or on a weekend to download it so it has the correct perceived date.
Any resident having questions can contact a council member or call 937-787-3728.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
