Water customers see delay in January statements

Officials at the Forrest City Water Department said residents should call the office with any questions about their monthly bills after many utility bills and other mail has arrived late to the homes of residents this month.

The water bills are due on the 10th of each month, but most customers didn’t begin receiving the January bill until this week.

"We sent a file to Atlanta and they print and mail our bills," said Leslye Laws, office supervisor for the water department. "We sent that file on the Dec. 31 like we always do."

Laws said the company prints, folds, stuffs and mails the bills for the agency.

"But it still, in my opinion, shouldn't take you over a week to get mail," said Laws. "Even from Atlanta."

Laws said many customers have told the office multiple bills this month had not been received on time.

"And I understand their frustration. We don't charge any late fee unless they are disconnected, and we've not had a conversation about the disconnecting," said Laws.

Laws encourages any resident who hasn't received their bill to call the office with any questions. "Because the tellers know," said Laws of the current issue.

Laws said another method for checking a water bill is to go online to the water department's website, www.forrestcitywater.com/

"All they will need is the account number that appears on

their bill," said Laws. "If they don't have a bill they are welcome to call us and we can give them that information over the phone."

Laws said the department can also email residents their bill if they so choose.

"Then they get it the day we do billing," said Laws. "Then they can print it out and bring it."

"We'd be glad for them to go that way to save money on printing and mailing," said Laws. "We also have bank drafts. That's the best thing I ever did for myself."

Residents wanting to switch to email or bank draft are encouraged to call the office.

The deadline to catch up on payments will continue to be Jan. 25, according to Laws, who also encourages residents to call and make arrangements with the department.

"As far as I know, that will still stand," said Laws. "I try to tell everyone it is to their benefit if they call us if there are any issues."

Laws said the department is willing to discuss payment plans for residents.

For more information about payment and billing, visit / www. forrestcitywater. com/ or call 870-633-2921.

Attempts to contact an official with the Forrest City Post Office to comment on the delay were unsuccessful.