By Jason Arndt
Correspondent
Due to a new state law that requires the safeguarding of information about utility bills, the Village of Union Grove might need to spend $1,000 to purchase new equipment in order to come into compliance with the recently passed Wisconsin Act 25.
And, unless amendments now being eyed for the new law are passed, Union Grove will not be alone.
As in Union Grove, Waterford village officials are monitoring the Act 25 issue and plan to take no action to make billing changes to their postcard system until the situation stabilizes.
Deputy Treasurer Stephanie Charapata serves as the primary staff person following the Act 25 issue for the Village of Waterford.
She said Wednesday that she has learned that some state Assembly members may submit a so-called “clean-up amendment” for Act 25, which would allow for the continued use of postcard billings by municipalities.
The amendment idea resulted from the high number of questions and concerns that legislators have received as a result of the recent Act 25 passage, Charapata added.
Act 25 makes it illegal for municipal utility companies to release customer information without the consent of customers.
As a result, privacy and confidentiality of customer information can be compromised with present billing systems that use postcards, such as in Union Grove and Waterford.
“There is some chatter among clerks about how this new law will affect municipalities,” said Union Grove Village Clerk-Treasurer Jill Kopp, speaking to Water, Wastewater, Streets and Parks Committee members at their Aug. 19 meeting.
“It’s a privacy matter.”
Many Wisconsin municipalities have for years sent out postcard-style bills for water/sewer billing, listing dollar amounts and account status without a sealed envelope. Kopp explained that extra labor and costs would be associated with upgrading the current billing system, including maybe switching paper size and using pressure-sealing bills to protect residents’ privacy.
Monday night, Union Grove Village Trustee Michael Younglove cautioned about making any changes “until we see what the state does.”
He also expressed concern about financial burdens placed on local municipalities to come into compliance with new state laws.
Kopp noted that Act 25 as written will have minimal effect on the transfer of accounts within the same property in landlord and homeowner circumstances.
“I know all of the title companies and mortgage companies needing final account rates of bills will now need a consent letter,” Kopp added. “That has added a step to all of the realtors, to obtain that information.”
Owners who rent out space to tenants are exempt due to the need of being in-formed about any past-due charges on a property.
Editor Patricia Bogumil contributed to this story.
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