City officials in St. James are encouraging residents to sign up to receive utility bills through email due to ongoing postal delays that are causing paper bills to arrive later than expected. In some cases, residents are receiving bills only days before the due date, narrowing the window to pay.

For the March billing cycle, meters were read on March 16. Paper bills can’t be printed until after the monthly disconnect date, which falls on May 25, so and on March 26, bills were sent to the post office. 

The city pays for a first class mailing permit that is supposed to guarantee bills will be received within five business days. However, many didn’t see bills until April 10, or later in some cases, according to Utility Office Manager Andrea Harris. This left some residents with five days or less to pay their bill by the April 15 due date.

“I have talked to the postmaster here, we’re trying to get our bills out a little earlier, but it’s a little difficult because you can’t read the meters early,” City Administrator Leeann DeMouche said. 

To combat the issue, the city is pushing for people to switch to email billing, which guarantees residents will receive their bills on the first of every month, regardless of postal delays.

DeMouche noted that many older residents prefer to receive paper bills, but said the city currently can’t predict when they will arrive each month. Email bills are encouraged because they offer a more consistent system, but paper billing will still be offered.

E-bills also reduce mailing expenses. In the month of March, the city spent $937 for postage on 1,455 paper bills, plus $370 for their mailing permit. On the other hand, there were 1,176 email bills sent out at no cost to the city.

To sign up for email billing, call the utilities office at 573-265-7011 extension 5, or stop by City Hall to provide your email. Residents can receive paper bills simultaneously if preferred.