Years ago IID closed the pay station in Holtville and made electric and water payers go to Del Sol or drive all the way to El Centro. Why is it that every time I go to make a payment there (at Del Sol), I have to wait till someone gets freed up and then has to go around into that little boxed room? Then I never seem to get an employee that speaks English. What was wrong with IID employees handling it? Because you know that IID pays Del Sol some kind percentage for doing an IID job. — Makes No Cents, Holtville
There is not going to be a clear-cut answer that is going to please the letter writer. However, we would preface our answer by advising the letter writer to take this issue up with his or her elected representative to the Imperial Irrigation District board, Division 5 Director Anthony Sanchez. Holtville is within Sanchez’s division. He can be reached via e-mail at asanchez@iid.com
That said, the IID’s Holtville pay station and several others staffed by IID personnel were closed in 2004 as part of a reorganization plan to “reduce cost and create operational efficiencies,” said IID spokesman Robert Schettler.
Even though the decision was made to reopen a few of them, most were left closed. Schettler said eight of the 12 IID-authorized pay stations are at grocery stores throughout the Valley, “which usually take other utility payments and offer extended hours of operation,” he said.
That includes Holtville’s, which is in El Sol Market not Del Sol.
“Most retailers serve customers in English and Spanish, but this not required to be an IID pay station,” Schettler added.
He said the district does provide training and equipment for its pay stations as well as making periodic site visits.
“As this is the first complaint received about the pay station at this location, IID will look into it,” Schettler said.
Also, in terms of the contract, the retailer is paid per transaction on a sliding scale, depending on the amount of payment transactions for the month, he said.
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