A convenience previously reserved only for rule breakers will now be extended to law-abiding residents of North Lewisburg.
At Tuesday night’s village council meeting it was noted that residents seeking to pay their water and sewer bills will now be able to use a credit or debit card. The convenience materialized as the village sought to expand the services of a company that takes payments for the village’s Mayor’s Court.
GovPayNet allowed those incurring fines through Mayor’s Court to make payments with credit or debit cards. Village Financial Officer Jennifer McCombs explained that the company will now expand the services to include village utility bills.
Residents can still walk in or mail payments to the village administration buildings, but they will soon be able to use a debit or credit card in person, over the phone or through an online portal.
There will be a fee assessed for card usage. For example, a typical $60 utility bill will require a $1 fee if paid by debit card and a $2 fee if paid by credit card.
Debit card payments will pay 1.15 percent of the bill amount, with a $1 minimum fee. Credit cards users will see an increasing schedule of a $1 fee for utility bills under $50, a $2 fee for bills between $50 and $100, a $3 fee for bills between $100 and $150 and a 2.65 percent fee for bills above $150.
Mayor Cheryl Hollingsworth said their have been no issues using the company for Mayor’s Court payments and the money typically moves into village accounts within a day of the payment being made.
“This is just a convenience for our citizens,” she said.
Council member John Collier asked if the village would be able to allow residents to set up automatic payments through the system. McCombs said such a service would not be offered, but many online banking programs allow residents to set up recurring payments.
In other business, council:
-Passed a resolution requiring two signatures on village checks. Signatures from a combination of McCombs, Hollingsworth or council president Ted Murphy will be required. In the past two signatures were required but one could be a stamped likeness.
-Approved the council Christmas party at village hall at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11. The council meeting will be held an hour earlier in a bay at the adjoining fire department.
-Noted that the village Christmas Parade was set for Sunday Dec. 9.
-Reminded residents that leaf pickup will run through Nov. 30. Leaves should be placed curbside and no sticks or rocks are permitted. Residents should also avoid placing leaves around mailboxes.
-Learned that the village received a $2,100 grant for its spring cleanup program from the North Central Ohio Solid Waste District. The grant will cover half the cost of the program.