By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorWright City officials are reminding water and sewer customers it is their responsibility to pay their monthly bill even if it gets lost in the mail.Officials recently noted that the problem has been escalating in recent months and left some residents frustrated because they face late fees.The city is trying to improve the situation, but cautioned customers to be aware if a bill does not arrive or is late.Karen Girondo, the city’s treasurer/economic development director, said the city mails the bills at the first of every month. Bills must be paid by the 10th of the month to avoid a late fee, which is 10 percent on the first month the bill is delinquent and 1.5 percent for every month thereafter.“It’s an ongoing problem,” Girondo said. “I would say we get 10 to 20 people every month that call and say they did not get their bill.”Girondo explained that the bills are mailed locally, but are sent to a sorting facility in St. Louis and then sent back to the Wright City Post Office.Since the bills have perforated edges, postal officials told Girondo they might get hung up and destroyed in machines at their facility.“They have no way knowing what is lost or what wasn’t,” Girondo said. “We found out a problem in one area, but that has been cleared up. We still have a number of people every month they don’t get their bills. The majority of them are people who pay their bills on time.”At the Nov. 12 board of aldermen meeting, members voted unanimously to waive the delinquent fees for an apartment complex that apparently did not receive a bill on time.However, they instructed employees to note this is only a one-time move.“Just because they didn’t get it, it doesn’t relieve their responsibility to pay,” Alderman Jim Schuchmann remarked.Girondo encouraged customers to contact city hall if a bill is received late.“You are still responsible,” Girondo said. “We bill the first of the month and they are always due the 10th. If you don’t get it, you should call.”Other payment options are available. Monthly bills can be paid online at the city’s website (wrightcity.org) or residents can have their payments automatically deducted from their bank account. Customers also can choose to have their monthly bills emailed to them.Wright City