MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Water and Wastewater Department is looking at shifting to monthly billing in the near future, with the help of Newark billing processor Smart Bill. The company’s sales executive, Sherry A. O’Brien, met with water supervisor Ron Simpson and the Knox County Commissioners Thursday morning to discuss details of the costs and the advantages of making the change.
Smart Bill’s system would include the water bill changing from a small postcard to a statement delivered in a standard business-sized envelope with a return envelope enclosed. O’Brien said Smart Bill can offer this service for a lower rate than what the county is paying to print and mail statements because of the company’s discounts on bulk materials and bulk postage. Another factor is the extra cost the county encounters by printing delinquent bills on card stock, as the current system requires, then mailing those cards inside envelopes, which state law now requires.