BEAUMONT, Texas — A heated discussion over water bills took center stage at Tuesday’s Beaumont City Council meeting, ending with a decision to give residents more time to pay.

The council voted to approve a 10-day grace period for water bill payments before late fees are applied. Previously, late fees were added the day after the due date.

The decision followed tense exchanges between council members and city staff, as well as complaints from residents who said the city’s billing policies were confusing and unfair.

Councilman Corey Crenshaw argued that residents should be given up to three weeks to pay.

“I just don't understand why the city needs to have such confusing water bills. We keep having these problems over and over and over,” Crenshaw said.

One resident, Albert Harrison, tol

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