Water bills in Sumpter Township will have a new look beginning next month.
Members of the township board of trustees approved using KCI of Grand Rapids to print and mail the water and sewer bills. KCI currently prints and mails the township tax billings, officials said.
Cost for the service is expected to be $2,500 per quarter for the preparation and postage on the 3,300 water billings prepared quarterly.
Finance Director Scott Holtz explained to the board members that the data and compilation of the billings would continue to be prepared by a township employee and that the township would retain control of the billings. He said this would free up the department employee to provide other services needed in the finance department.
“This isn't skilled work,” he said, and indicated that the employee currently preparing the mailings is capable of providing much higher level work, which, he added, is needed.
“This is freeing up an employee's time,” he told the board members, noting the printing and preparation of the mailings is a time-consuming job. Outsourcing this aspect of the billing will allow for better use of the employee's time, he explained.
The new billings will be on 8 ½ by 11 inch sheets and will allow the township to include other communications or messages to residents, officials said. The new billings, in mailing envelopes, will replace the currently used postcards.
Trustee Peggy Morgan cast the only no vote on the new procedure.
