Cape city utility bill delay being investigated

There has been a delay in the arrival of the most recent water/sewer/trash combined bill to at least some of the city’s approximately 17,000 water customers, Cape Girardeau city manager Scott Meyer said this week.

“We’re aware of the problem and we’ve been taking inquiries about it,” said Meyer, who said the city uses a third-party vendor to print and mail out invoices.

The city’s customer services manager, Trisha Holloway, said Wednesday the vendor, Peregrine Solutions of Monroe, Louisiana, informed her the bills are going out on schedule.

One Cape Girardeau resident told the Southeast Missourian he was informed his bills for four properties were sent out Dec. 23 with a pay deadline of Wednesday and had not arrived.

“We’ve had more calls than normal,” said Holloway, who, after consulting with Peregrine, believes the delay is because of the U.S. Postal Service.

“Peregrine is putting on a trace of the next batch of invoices,” said Holloway, who said suggested COVID, possible U.S.P.S. reduced staffing and the crush of holiday mail may all be factors in slow delivery.

Meyer added customers who use the autopay option have not been inconvenienced.