County to accept credit cards for utility payments

BOLIVIA—Brunswick County will now accept credit cards for utility payments and customers will be able to use them in the cafeteria at the county complex.

County commissioners on Monday voted to approve two contracts which would allow the county to begin accepting debit and credit card payments and payments by electronic check.

County finance director Ann Hardy said utility customers who opt to pay by credit card would be charged a $2 transaction fee per $100 payment.

For electronic checks, the customer will be charged $3 per transaction for payments less than $10,000. For payments greater than $10,000, the customer will be charged $15 per transaction, Hardy said.

The county’s contract with Official Payments would ensure the security of customers’ information, and would not subject the county to fines if personal information were compromised, Hardy said.

Customers of the county’s cafeteria will also be able to use a credit or debit card to pay for their purchase, Hardy said. Commissioners approved a contract with BB&T for electronic transaction processing.

Hardy said allowing customers to use credit and debit cards in the cafeteria was “strictly a convenience to the retail customer.”

Equipment and set-up cost to begin accepting electronic payments is $490, and BB&T charges a $5 monthly fee.

BB&T’s per-item fee is 10 cents plus .19 percent of the sales amount. Hardy says this equates to 11 cents on the average $6 transaction.

The county, not the customer, will pay all fees, Hardy said, adding the fees were “very reasonable.”

In other business, board members:

•Approved the public housing agency’s 2009 annual plan.

•Approved the pre-application for the 2008 housing preservation grant. Planning director Leslie Bell said if the USDA grant is approved, the county would be obligated to provide a $45,000 match.

•Set a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. May 5 for proposed map amendment Z-08-02 and the proposed land future land use plan amendment.

•Scheduled a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. May 5 for proposed map amendment Z-08-032 and the proposed future land use plan amendment.

•Cancelled the Sunset Beach water tank maintenance contract with Utility Service Co.

•Authorized a memorandum of understanding for the town of Navassa for connections to the county-owned force main on Cedar Hill Road.

•Approved an upgrade for six county-owned pump stations.

Caroline Curran is a staff writer at the Beacon. Reach her at 754-6890 or at ccurran@brunswickbeacon.com