Questions arose about the new billing process for the Tallulah water system during the Feb. 27 city council meeting during discussion about Magnolia Water Utility Company, LLC out of Baton Rouge being its new temporary certified operator.
Gov. Jeff Landry declared Magnolia Water Utility Company the temporary operator after the withdrawal of Bonton Associates Inc. as the receiver for the water system was granted. Magnolia Water Utility Company, LLC officially became the temporary certified operator on March 3 and will take over collection and billings. However, citizens were unsure of ways they would be able to make their payments.
The change in the billing process occurred as a result of the City of Tallulah no longer being under a receivership, but instead a State of Emergency, as Landry declared.
As the temporary certified operator of the water system, Magnolia Water Utility Company, LLC is handling the billing and collections. Magnolia Water Utility Company, LLC will be the temporary certified operator for, most likely, at least a year. An emergency will have to be declared every 30 days.
Magnolia Water Utility Company, LLC contracted with Patterson Professional Services, Llc out of Collinsville, Texas, to take care of operations and maintenance and correct the issues at the plant.
David Patterson and Heath Loven of Patterson Professional Services, Llc attended the city council meeting. That was where questions were raised about the billing process.
City of Tallulah Spokesperson Yvonne Lewis answered those questions after meetings on Monday.
While Magnolia Water Utility Company, LLC is taking over the collection and billings for water, sewage and garbage billings will still be paid at the Tallulah water office.
"Customers will receive one bill for water and another bill for sewer and garbage," Lewis said. "It's always been on one bill before. It's always been on water, sewer and garbage on one bill."
Magnolia Water Utility Company, LLC's first billing cycle will be from March 1 to 31.
"We talked to them about different ways that they can pay and Magnolia is sending out a welcome letter to all Tallulah water customers and it provides information on where to go to their website to get the information on how you can set up autopay, those sorts of things," Lewis said.
Information to pay bills online can be found at magnoliawateruoc.com.
"There also is an opportunity for individuals if they want to pay in person, but the closest payment location for Tallulah would be at Walmart in Vicksburg (Miss.)," Lewis said. "So we have spoken with Magnolia and told them that there are several convenience stores here in town that already collect for lights and gas. So, we're going to put them in touch with Magnolia to see if they can also do water, so that there's a way for people who don't have transportation to pay their bill there."
Lewis said anyone paying at Walmart in Vicksburg, Miss., could go to the customer service department and be directed to the correct place to pay the bill.
Tallulah's water service will be working with Magnolia Water Utility Company, LLC to collect bills sent out in February and any outstanding bills.
Anyone with questions about bills may contact Tallulah City Hall at (318) 574-0964 and be directed to the right place.
As far as maintenance at the water plant goes, once some of the smaller issues are taken care of, Lewis said bigger things can be worked on.
"I think that a year is enough time to fix some of the major components of the water plant," Lewis said. "However, just fixing them is not going to solve all of our problems and so I think this year is also going to give the state time to come up with a long-term sustainable plan for water for Tallulah."
Water employees, as of now, are not expected to lose their jobs.
"It's our understanding that all employees are going to keep their jobs for now," Lewis said. "We are encouraging our folks that work at the plant to start working so that they can get their certification, which will just help them in the long run and, hopefully, help them stay on. But right now, there are no plans to let anybody go."
