By Josh Pike/Staff Writer
In a Feb. 28 message circulated to customers, the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) announced that it will be closing its offices at 100 Lyn Ave. to the public on March 1 until further notice “per guidelines set forth by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.”
The PAWSD Board of Directors previously discussed a closure of the office due to concerns about security issues at the office and increased amounts of aggression directed by customers and members of the public at staff.
These concerns and the district’s plans were covered in the Jan. 4 issue of The SUN.
Appointments will be available at the office for customers or community members to speak with PAWSD staff at the office.
The press release notes that there are several options for customers to pay their bills with the office closure.
These options cited for paying bills:
- Bills can be paid by placing the payment in the locked drop box in the driveway before the gate and near the fill station at the PAWSD offices at 100 Lyn Ave. The drop box is located in a slot in the PAWSD brick sign, according to the press release. Payments should be by cash or check should be placed in an envelope with the name and account number of the customer written on it, the release states. It adds that customers should be sure to distinguish between fill station and utility accounts. It also states that the drop box is checked each morning and payments are posted by noon so customers should “plan accordingly to ensure timely payment.”
- Customers can pay by phone, the release indicates, including by calling PAWSD office at (970) 731-2691 or by calling Xpress Bill Pay at (800) 768-7295, ext. 2.
- Customers can pay online at www.xpressbillpay.com, the release indicates. It adds that customers can register on Xpress Bill Pay to make payments, manage their account and set up auto pay.
- Customers can pay by mail by mailing their payment to the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District Process Center at PO Box 476, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062.
- Payments can be made at the TBK Bank locations in Pagosa Springs at 703 San Juan St. and 27 Talisman Dr., according to the press release. It states that customers should be ready to provide their account number to the bank.
“If you require assistance other than to make a payment, entrance will be by appointment only. Appointments are made Tues, Weds and Thurs - 8:30 – 4:30,” the press release states.
It adds that community members call the main office at (970) 731-2691 to discuss scheduling an appointment.
For further information on the details and reasons for the closure, see the March 7 issue of The SUN.
