Marthasville city officials continue to look at ways to reduce the number of delinquent water bills. With delinquent payments ranging from $4,354.59 to $12,000 in the past several months, officials are tired of carrying those bills. With the intent of shutting off water on a more consistent basis, the board of aldermen will review water billing procedures again. The policy will be addressed as part of a work session scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Jan. 12. The regular monthly meeting will follow at 7:30 p.m. The city's water bill policy states customers have 60 days from the original due date to pay their bill. A 10 percent late fee also is assessed by the city. City officials said previously they want to see bills paid in a more timely manner, but aren't sure that is occurring after taking a stricter approach in the past couple of months. In a late payment report provided at the last aldermanic meeting Dec. 8, 42 accounts were in arrears for $4,833.35. City Clerk Becky Adams said three customers had their water recently turned off by the city, including two for nonpayment. In a report dated Nov. 2, 22 accounts were a combined $2,736.04 behind in payments. In another report that listed the accounts with balances over 90 days due, the city was owed $4,354.59, including a $1,501.86 balance not listed for accounts that received late notices. Concerns about the delinquent bills were first raised by Alderman Jason Kober several months ago when a report indicated the city was owed $12,000 for delinquent charges. Mayor Dale Verges commented he thought some progress was being made in handling the delinquent accounts. Alderman Leo Tobben wasn't so sure. "I'm looking at how many people" are behind in payments, he said. Adams said in the instances where customers had their water shut off for nonpayment, the minimum monthly fee of $8 for water and $13 for sewer was not being assessed. She also said property owners had been allowed to have their water turned off to avoid the minimum payment when not in use. Tobben, however, said customers can't choose when they want to turn their water on or off. He stated customers voluntarily having their water shut off should be paying the $30 reconnect fee. The city also charges a $30 disconnect fee. "I think we need to go over (the policy) again," said Tim Flagg, head of the city's water and sewer department. "I thought we had it straight on what was going to happen. It's gotten confusing again. "When we set the rates back a year ago, we set that up for the base minimum. The reason for that was the rest of the consumers or customers did not have to subsidize the 30 percent of the apartments that were vacant," Flagg said. At the regular session Jan. 12, a representative of Regional Credit Services is expected to make a presentation. The collection agency, based in Washington, might be contracted by the city to help collect on delinquent bills.