The fee to have water turned back on after a disconnection for nonpayment may be going up in the borough, but customers will get one more reminder to get it paid than they have in the past.

Borough council voted Wednesday to have their solicitor draft an amendment to the ordinance that established the $10 turn-on fee for residents who have their water turned off for one reason or another.

The amendment would change that fee to $25 for those customers who are shut off for nonpayment. Customers who request water shutoffs for emergency purposes, or because they're leaving town for a while, will still pay only the $10 fee for reconnection.

When customers' bills are two weeks past due, letters are sent reminding them and giving them another two weeks to either make payment arrangements or full payment, according to secretary Tara DiMaria.

Council voted to give them one more reminder before the scheduled shutoff. Maintenance crews will post a card on the door of those who still have not paid three days before the deadline, reminding them.

Councilman Henry Pearce said the borough does have a program for those who are in financial difficulty and can't pay their water bill in full.

Residents should apply with the borough secretary.

The changes were suggested by Councilman Garner Lloyd who, because of recent surgery, has been suffering from short-term memory loss and forgot to pay his water bill last month. He said if he had seen a card on his door, he would have taken it and gone straight to the borough office to pay the bill, but he laid the letter aside and forgot about it.

All council members were in agreement with posting the reminder cards. Pearce and Councilwoman Kay Medberry voted against the $25 turn-on fee. Pearce said the fee should be $50.