By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorUtility customers in Warrenton now have the option of receiving their monthly bills electronically.The online option was recently completed and is now accessible for residents, officials said.Online billing is designed to be a convenience for customers as well as reduce mailing costs for the city.Residents will still have the option of receiving their printed monthly bill in the mail.As part of the new system, customers can have their water, sewer and trash bills emailed to them. They can also choose to have their payments automatically deducted from their bank account and transferred to the city.“I think it will be a great benefit for people who are into that,” Ward 2 Alderman Gary Auch said.Residents who enroll for e-billing will receive their bill as soon as it is available, rather than waiting for it to arrive in the mail. Officials noted that some complaints had been received from customers in the past who did not receive their monthly bill in a timely manner.The online option had been requested from residents.“We have had so many problems with the mail being late and people getting the bill late,” said Terri Thorn, director of operations/finance officer. “For those people who are concerned with the timing, this is a way to get it immediately so they don’t risk of not getting it in the mail until later on.”Enrollment forms are available at city hall or the city’s website (warrenton-mo.org).In other news• A lease agreement for a tower located at 312 Coleman Drive between the city and Charter Communications was renewed for five more years. The tower is located at the animal shelter. Charter will pay considerably more moving forward, with the annual payment now set at $5,000. The company previously paid $1,650 annually.The agreement will expire Feb. 28, 2020, though Charter has the option to extend the agreement for two additional five-year periods.An ordinance for the agreement was approved by a 5-1 vote. Ward 2 Alderman Gary Auch cast the lone dissenting vote. Auch said he was disappointed Charter is no longer providing free cable service to the city since it allowed the company to grow by offering its services to residents.• Trees that have been removed from Binkley Park can be purchased on govdeals.com, officials said. They had previously allowed residents to visit the city shed and take the firewood at no cost to residents. However, some concerns had recently been raised.“My belief is, whatever we gain is a plus for the city and the residents of our city since it’s not really residents burning the wood in their fireplace,” Thorn said. “I also have concerns with people coming to city property and using chain saws and Bobcats to load this up. This will eliminate all those issues and hopefully bring some revenue to the city.”• The board continues to mull changes to the city’s yard waste ordinance and proposed revisions are expected to be presented at a future meeting. At least two aldermen, Karen Casserly and Auch, favor a burn ban but decided against pushing the issue since a consensus of the board could not be reached.Currently, the city allows the open burning of yard waste, such as trees, leaves and brush. In a review of the 2009 fire code, it was learned that fire officials have the authority to extinguish a fire that is offensive because of the smoke.City of Warrenton