Norris rolls out online payments for utilities, city property taxes
Beginning last week (Sept. 1), Norris now allows residents and property owners to pay their utility bills and make their property tax payments through a new online system.
While there had been a way to make utility bill payments online before, this new system refines that process, and allows people to look up and pay their tax bills – all in one location online.
The new payment systems can be initially accessed through the city’s interim website, cityofnorris.com, then people can go to the separate links for utilities and taxes and set up their accounts.
To access the utility bill payment system, the link is https://citisenportal.com/Account/Login.
For property taxes, the link is https://citisenportal.com/Search/City%20of%20Norris.
If you own property in Norris, this link initially takes you to a screen that allows you to search for your property by name, address, or parcel/map, and then points you to the payment screen.
“That’s an upgrade from what we had in the past,” City Manager Adam Ledford said.
“They can now see how much they owe [on their tax bills]. It also provides more information to utility customers.”
Under Ledford’s guidance, Norris has created an “interim” website (cityofnorris.com), which replaced the previous site.
“The first week I was here (last October), the website we were using froze up and we were not able to get into it,” Ledford said. “It became a priority, and we set up an interim website. We will be moving to a permanent one, but I can’t say for sure when that will be.
“It’s kind of a big deal to change our website,” he said. “Once we did get one up and running, the permanent one has not been a priority.
“We want a professionally designed website, and that costs money – maybe $10,000 to $15,000 to do that.”
For now, the interim system provides a wealth of information about the city and the community.
City Council members are listed, with their contact information, along with city boards and commissions, meeting times, meeting agendas and minutes, utility hook-up instructions, and much more.
