The final 30 minutes of Tuesday night’s City Council meeting in Carmi surrounded the continued wrestling with how to deal with credit/debit card processing fees the city is forced to eat for customers paying with plastic.
Read more at Carmi Council Looking to Save $300k in Credit Card Processing – WRUL-FM
Mayor Bill Stendeback says, “We have got to get out from underneath where we’re at.”
I’ve sruggled with this since the day I got here. We’ve talked and talked and talked and looked and looked and looked and there is not a good answer.
The proposed ordinance would’ve allowed the City of Carmi to begin refusing to take credit or debit cards for payments beginning January 1st. In September alone, the city incurred more than $52,000 in fees they’re forced to “eat” and not allowed to pass along to the customer. The city is encouraging customers to switch to Automatic Withdrawal. Stendeback says just under 50% of customers are paying with plastic.
Councilman Doug Hays says he recognizes and agrees that the city is paying an exorbitant amount, but also stated the city’s purpose is to serve it’s citizens and not accepting those payment options would be a disservice to it’s own.
My thought is as a city, part of what we do is helping service our town. You know, we spray for mosquitoes. That only costs us money. We move snow. That only costs us money. We do police and fire and parks and that only costs us money. I think if we don’t take any cards at all, I don’t think we’re doing a good service to our town. I agree we can’t pay 10% fees.
At the end of the discussion, council decided to table the matter for the time being and continue to work on the issue.
To close out the meeting, council approved advertising for bids on the tear down of property at 200 West Kerney. There was no closed session. Council will next meet October 21st at 225 East Main Street in Carmi.