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Mount Clemens approves multiple water- and fee-related resolutions, moves to monthly billing
Summary
The Mount Clemens City Commission approved four separate rate resolutions for retail, wholesale, vector/septic and miscellaneous fees and voted to change water and sewer billing from quarterly to monthly; commissioners asked staff to explore bank autopay options to reduce customer processing fees.
The Mount Clemens City Commission on an unanimous roll call approved four separate fee-and-rate resolutions and adopted a change to monthly water and sewer billing aimed at helping residents detect leaks sooner and reducing delinquencies.
The commission approved separate resolutions covering retail water and sewer rates, wholesale water rates, vector and septic collar rates, and miscellaneous fees. Each motion was moved, seconded and carried by roll call. City Manager Shipman said the changes were presented "as presented" and recommended for adoption as part of routine utility rate adjustments.
The administration also requested adoption of a resolution to shift water and sewer billing from quarterly to monthly. Shipman said the change "will be beneficial to the city's water customers, as well as reduce the volume and frequency of delinquent water bill payments," adding that monthly bills make it easier for residents to discover leaks sooner.
Commissioners questioned payment options and processing costs. One commissioner asked whether the city could set up an autopay arrangement with Comerica Bank to avoid third-party processing fees. Shipman and other staff noted that customers can pay through banks with no fee in many cases, but that the city's online processor (InvoiceCloud) charges example fees: online water payments incur $4.50 per $400; by phone charges and percentage fees were also discussed during the debate.
The commission directed the finance director to contact Comerica to explore whether the bank can offer a no-fee electronic payment option for customers. The motion to adopt monthly billing was moved, seconded and approved by roll call.
The resolutions and the billing-change motion were approved in separate votes so that each measure stands as an independent authorization. The finance director will report back to the commission with options on autopay and fees.
The meeting record shows the commission took these votes during the regular meeting; no dissent was recorded on the roll calls.
