G ilbert officials ended a three-part series of listening sessions last week as they continued studying over water-billing spikes, portal failures and rate increases so they can address the widespread frustration over them.

Those issues have dominated recent council meetings and fueled community outrage for nearly five months – and Mayor Scott Anderson and a town spokeswoman said efforts to address the causes of residents’ frustration are intensifying.

The final listening session, held on site at the Santan Vista Water Treatment Plant, drew 30 residents seeking explanations for bills that in some cases surged by hundreds or even thousands of dollars after the town launched its new utility billing portal on June 30.

Problems reported since the rollout include lost access to historic

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