Grand Marais residents may someday get a chance to receive their public utility bills either by computer or mobile device. On Wednesday, July 6, 2014, the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission (PUC) board met to review a proposal sent by Neon Link, an online billing and paperless delivery service.
The system proposed by Neon Link allows customers to see their billing statements and conveniently pay them. Emails will include statements, billing inserts and newsletters.
Both customers and the PUC will benefit from the service. The PUC will receive payments faster, money will be saved on printing and mailing statements, customers can make payments without staff interruption, statements won’t get lost in the mail, and there will be a reduced need of storage and disposal for mailed in payments.
If the PUC chooses to buy the service it will take up to two and one-half months to set it up and get it running.
After some discussion the board agreed to table the matter and discuss it again at a future meeting.
Five-year right of way plan
PUC crews will be busy inspecting and marking rights of way in the coming months.
The rights of way will be color coded to indicate whether they are good, fair or bad.
During these inspections hazardous trees will be removed or marked for removal.
Substations and rights of way with poor access will be highlighted with spray paint every two years.
While PUC employees will do the majority of the clearing, some contractors will be hired to assist where needed. The estimated cost to the city is $30,000 over five years.
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