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City Council Meeting <br />September 10, 2001 <br />Page 15 <br /> <br />City Manager Malone called the City Council's attention to information from <br />the Local Government Code, Chapter 132, and a memorandum from the City <br />Attorney to Gene Anderson regarding the question about taking credit card <br />payments. City Manager Malone advised that one of the items that was not <br />placed in the city budget, or placed back into the city budget was the credit <br />card machines and the night drop box. <br /> <br />Gene Anderson, Director of Finance, came forward telling the City Council that <br />it was his intention to do a pilot project for taking credit card payments at the <br />Water Billing Office, and work out all of the mechanics in order to control it. <br />He said he had requested three stations to start with. <br /> <br />Councilman Plata told the City Council that he had called several cities to see <br />how their operation worked and Greenville said they had a $5.00 convenience <br />fee. Councilman Plata said that Sherman and Mt. Pleasant do not have the <br />convenience fee, but Sulphur Springs and Allen both have the convenience fee. <br />Councilman Plata said he feels that the City of Paris should charge a fee and if <br />people are aware that the city charges a fee, it would be fine (no problem). <br /> <br />Mr. Anderson said he was not opposed to charging a fee and that it was his <br />intention to do so. He stated that he is working on how to implement such a fee <br />given that both Visa and Master Card standard merchant agreements state that <br />you will not charge such a fee. By state law the city is allowed to charge the <br />fee. Mr. Anderson said that the cost per station, including the installation cost, <br />would be approximately $500.00 per station. Mr. Anderson said there would <br />have to be a dedicated telephone line for each station in order to transact <br />business and that a dedicated telephone line currently costs $45.00 a month. <br /> <br />Mayor Pfiester said he would like city staff to research using credit cards for <br />every department for which it would be applicable. <br /> <br />Councilman Carter asked if Mr. Anderson had researched the possibility of <br />leasing the machines. Mr. Anderson said he would also check in to the lease <br /> <br /> <br />