GRAVETTE — Gravette water customers will soon see a change in the reading date for their meters and a change in the monthly billing cycle.

An ordinance, approved Sept. 27, by the city council, authorized the change. The document, in its entirety, was published in the Oct. 10 issue of the Westside Eagle Observer.

As of Dec. 30, the following changes will be in effect.

1. Meters will be read on or before the 30th of each month.

2. Bills will be mailed on orbefore the 10th of the following month.

3. Payments are due by 4:30 p.m. on the 25th of the month.

4. Shut-offs will be on the 5th of the following month.

5. Late fees of 25 percent will be automatically assessed for payments received after the 4:30 p.m., on the 25th, deadline.

In making the changes, the council notes: “This schedule change has been adopted by the Gravette City Council as per Ordinance 12-18 and in response to numerous concerns of senior citizens and SSI individuals on strictly fixed incomes. The new billing schedule willalso coincide with the city’s water readings from Benton/ Washington Regional Public Water Authority, which supplies and bills the city for water piped from Beaver Lake.”

In addition, a service fee of $35 is automatically assessed for customers who are placed on the shut-off list.

City Covers Charges

Additionally, the city announced, “In order to help our water customers, the city will absorb/cover a $0.10 per 1,000 increase on water that will be charged the city by the Benton/Washington Public Water Authority as of January 1, 2013.”

News, Pages 3 on 11/07/2012