With little fanfare, the Town Council approved hiring a Florida firm to handle the billing for a new environmental fee it is imposing on all parcels in town.

It marked the 20th time at a public meeting that this and previous councils had discussed the controversial issue.

The council late last year on a 4-3 vote narrowly approved assessing the fee, but it has taken this long to find a billing company and get the council’s approval on a contract.

Mayor Linda Kavanagh, a vocal opponent of the fee, brought up a last-minute question concerning confidentiality of names, addresses and other information of parcel owners here and the billing firm’s ability to sell such information to third parties.

Finance Director Craig Rudolphy said he believed the original “request for proposals” did not address the confidentiality issue.

However, the motion that was approved on a 4-2 vote included language that the contract between the town and Florida-based American Metering Services (AMS Billing Services) specify that any information provided to AMS by the town and residents would remain confidential.

AMS was the only firm to submit a bid to the town. It has been in operation since 1998 and is located in Sarasota, Fla.

It specializes in utility billing solutions, sub metering, water conservation and specialty billing services.

AMS will bill the approximately 15,000 parcels in Fountain Hills once each year. Each bill would be for $36.

It will cost the town $85,000 annually to have AMS do the billing.

AMS and the town will prepare a mailing to explain the bill residents will be receiving and introduce the vendor so customers understand the options in paying the fee.

The town also plans to issue press releases and prepare an article for inclusion in the winter edition of “In the Loop.”

Two public outreach sessions also will be held, likely during December, in council chambers where residents can attend to ask questions and get information.