Monessen upgrades software system for collection of garbage bills
MONESSEN – City officials are switching to a new utility billing software system that will enable them to save time and money.
Council approved contracting with Muni-Link, an IT firm in Bellwood, to provide unlimited licensing, upgrades and support for a refuse billing and collection system. After paying an initial fee of $7,000 for the software platform, the city will be charged $880 per month for support.
Acting Mayor and Councilman Tony Orzechowski said the city was looking for a better way to access accounts and process billing for garbage collection.
“We were having a lot of problems with our old system,” said Orzechowski, during the council’s workshop meeting. “We have over 7,000 customers and we needed to find a better way to manage those accounts.”
City Administrator and Clerk Judith Taylor said the new cloud-based software system will help staff to compile more accurate reports and better detect garbage bills that are overdue.
“The new system will enhance our ability to bring in payments,” she said. “It will be a little cheaper than our old system, so we will be saving some money. And since the names of our customers are already in the system, we will have the ability to use the software to bill customers for other services.”
Monessen’s contract with Muni-Link will start on July 1.
Also, during the meeting, the council:
n Accepted a quote of $8,668 from Mornak Excavation, Inc., as the lowest quote for the Tenth and McMahon Sidewalk Replacement Project. Services will be paid out of Line Usage funds.
n Approved payment to WEC, Inc. in the amount of $2,735 for preparation of demolition condemnation reports and project management activities for the FY 2017 CDBG Demolition Project, Phase II, to be paid out of CDBG funds.
n Approved a request from the Christian Center Church to use the Monessen Public Library parking lot for a Backyard Fun Block Party on June 17 and June 29.