April 2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

4 New utility bill payment program launched In January of this year, the City launched a new online utility bill payment program. This new program gives customers the ability to view their utility bill history, including statements issued and payments made; the ability to set up recurring payments; the option to choose paper or electronic (or both) billing statements; the ability to manage several accounts under one username; the ability for both renters and landlords to access an account and make separate, secure payments while keeping their personal information confidential; and the ability for all transactions to be credited to the customer’s account immediately. According to Arden Hills Accounting Clerk Pang Silseth, the upgrade was initi- ated by customers’ requests for e-bills and autopay. The advantages to online bill pay and setting up automatic payments are convenience and reliability. Paying bills online can be as easy as a couple clicks, especially once customers have created a profile on the site. By scheduling bills to be paid automatically, customers don’t need to worry about late payments or by Emma Theis missing a payment since it will be auto- matically deducted from their checking account or credit card when the bill is due. So far, out of the City’s 2,640 accounts, 694 customers (11 percent) have created profiles on the new bill pay website, says Silseth. Within that, 226 (8.5 percent) of those customers have signed up to use autopay. The City still utilizes its old online pay- ment system - RevTrak - for other online payments such as parks and recreation fees, building permit fees, rental reg- istration fees, licensing fees, and other miscellaneous fees. Both means of online payment can be accessed at the City’s website. Online program responds to customer requests for electronic option Learn more Go to http://www.cityofardenhills.org under Bill Pay to learn more about online bill pay options. Beating out 125 other applicants and rising to the top of a group of 15 can- didates interviewed, Aaron Thelen started what he calls his “dream job” on February 12 as Recreation Programmer for the City of Arden Hills. In his new position, Aaron will help develop and plan Parks and Recreation activities and events throughout the year, organize sports league programming, fill seasonal Parks and Recreation staffing needs, and assist the Recreation Coordina- tor with department operations. A 2010 graduate of the University of Northwestern in Arden Hills, Aaron earned his degree in Physical Education and Health. He is very excited to return to the community he called home during his college years and put his education to work creating recreation programming for Arden Hills residents of all ages, abilities, and interests. Aaron also brings to this position previous work experience as a youth sports coach with the YMCA in Shoreview and as an athletic tournament director with Min- nesota Youth Athletic Services. While at Northwestern, Aaron played on the soccer team for four years and gained experience coaching adult athletes. He is hopeful that his experience in and passion for coaching will be a resource to the volunteer coaches in the Parks and Recreation programs who wish to gain and develop additional coach- ing skills. Aaron is a Brainerd native and currently lives in Coon Rapids with his wife of five years. In his free time, Aaron enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, kayaking, and biking – he has even started mapping out a route to City Hall so that he can bike to work in the summer. Welcome, Aaron! Meet Recreation Programmer Aaron Thelen When utility bills go unpaid in Arden Hills, the City rarely resorts to shut- ting off the utility, says Arden Hills Ac- counting Clerk Pang Silseth. Instead it cer- tifies the delinquent payments to Ramsey County. Once a balance becomes 90 days past due, it is considered delinquent. The City will send out notices of the late and subsequently delinquent balance on an ac- count, but after 90 days—including three to four additional weeks to receive pay- ment —the amount will be submitted to the City Council with a recommendation to be certified to the County. Upon approval from the Council, the delinquent amount is then deducted from the customer’s utility bill, sent to Ramsey County, and from there will be collected with property taxes. Arden Hills bills customers and certifies to the County quarterly (four times a year). An eight- percent fee is added to late utility bills and an additional eight percent fee is added when delinquent bills are certified to the County. In 2014, Arden Hills delinquent utilities amounted to $19,319 dispersed among 85 customers. Silseth reported this amount was average for the City. What happens when utility payments are delinquent? by Tina Kulzer