Residents will notice the latest mailing of Water/Sewer/Trash utility bill postcards are suddenly yellow. While change can be a bit of shock, rest assured it is completely innocent. There is NOT a new category- YELLOW BILLS!!! Rather, the yellow cards have replaced the blue cards. Even going into 2023, supply chain shortages plague the world. Unfortunately our beloved blue post cards are no longer available. Yellow will be the new, cheerful, replacement for the regular Water/Sewer/Trash utility bill. Pink cards will still be utilized for penalty bills.
If you are unfamiliar with the billing cycle process, here is a quick synopsis. Water meters are read by our dedicated team of Public Works Employees typically around the 18th of the month. Regular bills are then calculated, created and mailed the last week of the month. The balance is due by the 15th of the month. Always. The due date never changes. Any unpaid balance after the 15th of the month is assessed a 10% penalty, resulting in a pink penalty bill, which is typically mailed out 3-5 days after the penalty date, which is the 16th. All previous balances are due prior to the shut off date indicated on your regular water/sewer/trash bill, or disconnection will occur. A reconnection fee is added if water is disconnected due to non-payment. Please do not hesitate to call the Clerk's Office if you have any questions. We are always happy to help! Have a safe and Happy New Year!
October 19, 2022 Ameren hosted their Annual Business Symposium in Springfield, IL. The symposium draws nearly 5oo attendees throughout the state. Representatives from several municipalities, school districts, small and large businesses, and energy sector vendors came together for a day of collaboration. Village Collector and Clerk, Amy Benwell attended on behalf of the Village. While there, Amy attended several lectures on custom incentive application writing, renewable energy, and innovative energy efficient technology. Through the Ameren Efficiency Program, the Village has already upgraded all lighting in village owned properties to LED, yielding a ten year savings of roughly $30,000. Amy Benwell and Chris Remick worked together to write a custom incentive application that was recently awarded to upgrade and replace the bioluminescent dissolved oxygen sensors in the sequencing batch reactor tanks at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. With rising energy costs, every attempt is being made by the teams in place at the Village of New Athens to utilize the most efficient technology available at the lowest cost.
The New Athens kindergarten classes were hard at work the last week of October drawing pictures to thank Lt. Tim Buehler for his twenty years of service to the Village of New Athens. When presented with the array of colorful drawings, Lt. Buehler was rather moved. The children submitted drawings of their time spent with Lt. Tim, along with messages thanking him for the time he dedicates to them. The students love when Lt. Buehler takes the time to read to them, stop in during lunch, and simply ask how they are doing. The relationship fostered between the youth and police is outstanding. Later that evening, Lt. Tim could be seen handing out candy to young trick-or-treaters, while keeping the streets safe with Officer Lydia Simburger. Parents throughout town snapped photos of Lt. Tim letting the little trick-or-treaters try on his very special lieutenant's hat. Once again, the Village of New Athens thanks Lt. Buehler for being a pillar of the community.
At the Regular Board Meeting on October 17, 2022, Lt. Tim Buehler was honored with a photo plaque for his twenty years of service on the New Athens Police Department. Chief Leo Simburger commended Lt. Buehler for his commitment to the community. Among many community driven efforts, Lt. Buehler can often be seen directing traffic during school drop off and pickup as well as reading to grade school students and leading the DARE program. Not many weeks go by without Lt. Buehler being seen doing a good deed. In addition to performing his duties as lieutenant, he has been known to go above and beyond helping residents with overgrown brush, assisting the school with programs, serving in the church, and coming to the aid of local business owners, all while being a devoted husband and father. His heart is truly in it for the community and we are forever grateful for his service.
The Village of New Athens is pleased to announce Mrs. Martha Laumbattus as the first recipient of the Yard of the Month award.
Mrs. Laumbattus's lawn is always so beautifully manicured.
It is hard to miss the show stopper hanging baskets adorning her property, as well as a variety of shrubs and bright seasonal blooms.
Nancy Ritter nominated Mrs. Laumbattus. Congratulations!
Beginning October 03, 2022 Regular and Special Board meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m.
