Late water bills prompt resident complaints; board weighs lobby cameras to protect staff

Village finance staff reported multiple resident complaints that water bills arrived late, and the board discussed steps to address billing delivery and staff safety.

Director of Finance Eugene Rainey told trustees the village had received several complaints about late water bills and said billing and mailing are handled by a third party and the Dundee post office. "We've gotten several complaints about late water bills. Sometimes the bills are arriving after the due date," he said, and urged residents to contact the village if they have not received a bill by the 15th of the month.

Trustees discussed options to alleviate the problem and to protect staff from confrontations when residents come to the counter upset. The village president proposed installing a lobby camera and signage to deter aggressive behavior; trustees asked staff to check placement, privacy considerations and whether the system could be integrated with existing village camera infrastructure. One trustee noted that some external officers had access to neighborhood cameras in other jurisdictions and asked that vendor agreements and access controls be clarified before implementation.

Board members did not adopt a final policy at the meeting but directed staff to consult with the chief and other staff about camera placement, privacy and costs and to continue outreach to residents about billing procedures and deadlines.