By Michael Andrews
Mountain Life Editor
The Ellijay-Gilmer County Water and Sewerage Authority is urging customers who pay their bill online to use an updated link on its website, which might require providing new login information.
The water authority is able to accept more forms of payment after recently switching over to the new payment software system, noted Gary McVey, water authority director, during a Monday, July 31, board meeting.
“Right now our customers can pay by credit/debit card in the office, and they can pay by phone. The online payment process has been improved. We have seen reduced foot traffic due to these changes being made, so people are using these options.” he added.
“There are still a couple of minor issues with the online payments because of third party vendors concerning scheduled payments, but we’re working on that, and we anticipate it to be resolved soon. We also anticipate the ability to accept ACH payments online soon.”
Alicia Stewart, water authority controller, said the service provider is trying to get the word out as much as possible to customers about the changes. They will stop accepting payments through the old online pay links at some point, but a definitive date for that hasn’t been set.
“We’re still getting payments from the old system, but we will be discontinuing it eventually. The main thing now is to get people to change over to the new system,” said Stewart.
An account number and street address can be provided for a one-time payment at the new online bill pay link, or a login can be created for recurring payments.
“The link (to the old system) is no longer on our website, but I’m sure a lot of people have it bookmarked or saved. We’re putting (information) on our bills, but if people have scheduled payments, they probably don’t look at their bill,” Stewart said.
In other news …
﹣ McVey said new water line installation along South Main Street was expected to have started by now, but the contractor is still in the preconstruction stage.
The notice to proceed with the project, which will involve installing new water line underneath South Main Street and eventually parts of Church Street and River Street, was set for July 10, he added.
“The contractor showed up on the job July 25 and started testing the thickness of the existing asphalt. They did get a subcrew to come in and perform some saw cuts on the asphalt. I’ve been expecting them to start laying pipe for two weeks now. They haven’t, and I’m beginning to get mildly concerned,” McVey said. “Especially on that project, I would be a little more attentive to my time.”
The contractor, UWS, of Trion, has 150 days to complete the entire project.
“We’re going to hold their feet to the fire on that,” McVey said.
﹣ Board members approved the following:
Purchase of a 2023 Ford F-150 truck for the wastewater treatment plant for $42,921.
﹣ Purchase of a new hydraulic excavator and trade-in of a T-190 Skid Steer for $78,793.
﹣ Pre-approval for future purchase of a gently used Lull/SkyTrak telehandler for the maintenance and distribution department and a Genie Lift for the water treatment plant for an amount not to exceed $115,000.
﹣ An expense not to exceed $30,000 to hire MR Systems, of Norcross, for work and upgrades on the water plant, wastewater plant and water distribution SCADA systems.
﹣ Leaving the board’s officer structure the same for the 2023-24 fiscal year with Mike Gibbs as chairman, Billy Rowe as vice chairman, Hubert Parker as secretary/ treasurer, Tony Whitaker as assistant secretary/treasurer and Ricky Wimpey as board member.