NEW SUMMERFIELD — Change has come to New Summerfield.

If residents haven't noticed already, the billing dates for their utility bills have shifted.

Claudia Martinez, utilities clerk, said the billing dates have been changed to keep in accordance with the gas company the city purchases gas from.

“Billing was sent out on the 16th and they were charged on the 30th," she said. “Now they are being billed on the 30th and it's due on the 15th. The dates have flipped.”

Martinez said the billing date change will put some ease on the department because previously rates were given the same day billing had to get sent out.

However, the billing the residents receive are now two billing cycles behind as opposed to one.

“We might receive complaints because if a customer cancels their bill, they are still going to get two more bills because they are two months behind,” she said.

In other business, residents who put a mobile home on a lot in New Summerfield are required to pay a $75 fee by city ordinance. For each day a permit is not purchased, the resident will have to pay $100.

People wishing to sell their wares in New Summerfield will have to purchase a vendor's permit. There is a $100 fee for the first time and a $25 renewal fee by city ordinance.

“If people want to come and set on the side of the road and sell things, that would be considered a vendor,” council member Donna Cameron said. “Anything that is basically mobile.”

In addition to the vendor and mobile permits, modifications have been made to building and inspection permits.

For building, electrical and plumbing permits, residents paid a $25 flat rate, Martinez said. After utility director Paul Emerson evaluated and compared the charges to the city of Jacksonville, he said the city was under charging.

Residents will be charged based on the valuation of what is being built.

For every day a resident builds without a permit, the resident will be charged a $100 fine.

The following are the prices per valuation:

• For a $0 - $1,000 valuation, residents are charged $20

• For a $1,001 - $50,000 valuation, residents are charged $20 for the first $1,000 plus an $5 per additional $1,000

• For a $50,001 - $100,000 valuation, residents are charged $265 for the first $50,000 plus an $4 per additional $1,000

• For a $100,001 - $500,000 valuation, residents are charged $465 for the first $100,000 plus an additional $1 per additional $1,000

• For a $500,001 and higher valuation, residents are charged $865 for the first $500,000 plus an additional 75 cents per additional $1,000

‘In addition to the building permits, residents wishing to connect electricity or install plumbing would have to buy an inspection permit before anything is installed.

“Say someone builds a new bedroom,” Cameron said, “(Emerson) would inspect it and it would be $50 for the inspection. If they didn't pass the inspection, they would need to pay $25 for re-inspection before electricity can be put on.”

All permit fees went into effect Aug. 15.