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WINTERSVILLE -- Members of Wintersville Council Thursday learned of problems in using computer software to prepare bills for customers whose water service now is measured by radio-read meters.
Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi said Capt. Jason Fabian of the village's police department has been working with village staff to apply the software, which is supplied by a vendor at a cost of $4,400 per year.
Fabian told council the software was purchased by the village four years ago, but he and others, including an independent information technology consultant, have been unable to correct problems that have resulted in some billing errors.
He said village staff have put in much time to correct the errors manually.
Asked about the errors, Mayor Mike Petrella said, "One (bill) was $42,000 for a resident, and I can assure you that wasn't accurate."
He and Kosegi said they have ruled out the problem being related to the village office's computer network.
"We've done all we could do on our end, but we still don't have working, reliable software," said Fabian.
Kosegi asked council to consider a contract with a new vendor that would amount to about $17,250 for initial costs, to be paid in two installments, followed by a monthly fee of $875 per month.
He said while the cost would be more, it would allow the village to bill its customers online, which he said would cut costs for postal delivery.
The option of online billing has been touted as one reason for the installation in recent months of water meters that transmit readings to the village's water tower and from there to the Municipal Building.
Fabian said the proposed vendor would create a web-based database that would be cloud-backed, securing it against computer hacks.
Kosegi asked council to consider switching to the vendor, citing costs and manpower invested in adapting the current software.
But Councilman Randy Spence recommended Village Solicitor Jake Linn, council's legal adviser, review the contract for the current vendor and the proposed vendor first.
Councilman Jason Mattern also suggested Kosegi contact other municipalities served by the proposed vendor.
Pending Linn's review, council may call a special meeting to consider the matter.
Its next regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 20.
In other business, Petrella said he and Kosegi have received hundreds of calls from residents concerned about the electric aggregate agreement council approved for the village through negotiations by Optics Consulting, a utility broker.
Petrella said council's intention is to save the village's residents in costs for the utility through the collective bargaining agreement.
He said the village was advised that otherwise, residential electric customers are expected to see a 10 to 15 percent increase in their costs while businesses could see a 29 percent increase, both by May.
Wintersville officials had expected the village's electric customers to receive letters notifying them of the agreement and the ability to opt out if they chose.
But they indicated not all received letters, possibly because of agreements they had made with other providers.
Mattern said residents have until Monday to opt out and may do so by calling Dynegy's customer service number at (888) 682-2170.
According to Dynegy's website at https://www.dynegy.com/municipal-aggregation, the rate set for Wintersville is 9.24 cents per kilowatt-hour.
A comparison of rates charged by electric providers, as well as natural gas providers, for various time periods can be found at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's website at https://puco.ohio.gov/utilities/electricity/resources/energy-choicee-ohio.
Also on Thursday, council approved the sale of five vehicles: A 1998 bucket truck, a 2010 plow truck, a 2011 Toyota Camry previously used by the village's code enforcement officer (whose role is now assumed by a village police officer); and 2011 and and 2006 Ford Crown Victorias formerly used as police cruisers.
In related business, Petrella said village crews were able to refurbish a 1996 mobile traffic signal used during construction and other work affecting traffic.
He said their efforts saved the village the cost of about $5,300 for a new one.