Fort Recovery bill payment going online

FORT RECOVERY - Residents will soon be able to pay their bills, various fees and taxes electronically as village council members approved entering into an agreement with GovPayNet at their Monday meeting.

Fiscal officer Roberta Staugler said the option had been put off in the past due to the extra steps required to process credit cards or to create an online payment option. However, times have changed. The village has received more and more requests to accept electronic payments, and people don't carry checkbooks as they used to, she added.

Under the agreement with GovPayNet, the village wouldn't pay any extra fees, though customers would pay a small convenience fee. Staugler said the fees from GovPayNet were less than those of other services she'd reviewed.

Once the agreement is effective, a card swiper will be made available in the office, and officials can also make online payments available on the village website, which could be used for any city service or fees, including taxes, zoning permits or golf cart inspections. The agreement is not a contract, and the village can cancel at any time.

In other business, the street research committee met earlier on Monday and had decided to prioritize four areas for asphalt overlay projects. Village administrator Randy Diller noted $100,000 has been set aside this year for overlay projects. While he doubted all four areas could be done for that amount, the committee would research estimated costs for each area to determine what could be done. The committee will target Industrial Drive West, Center Street, the parking areas behind downtown businesses and Black Eagle Drive.

Maharg Trash Services, the village's trash service provider, has been awarded another three-year contract with a possible two-year extension/renewal period.

Diller said Maharg submitted the only bid as the village requested. Officials had received an alternate bid from Rumpke Trash Collection, which would have provided everyone in the village with garbage carts instead of necessitating paying for individual bags. Diller said he thought the idea of people paying for what they used instead of paying a flat rate was more fair and that he couldn't remember the last complaint he'd received about Maharg.

Prices will stay the same with garbage bags at $1.45 each, recycling bags at 70 cents and yard-waste bags at $1.05.

Council members also,

• approved closing Wayne Street for the Taste of Fort Recovery, which will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 13. The Fort Recovery Friends of the Arts will sponsor a band, and a beer- and wine-tasting will be held. Village grants administrator Erin Minor said 10 vendors have committed to participate, making this year's event the biggest and hopefully best Taste of Fort Recovery to date.

• were informed that police chief Jared Laux will teach self-defense classes on March 22. A youth class will be from 3:45-5:45 p.m., and a second for teens and adults will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

• entered into a five-year contract lasting until 2023 with Second National Bank to accept deposits.

• received an update on the business income tax lawsuit from Minor. Twenty-eight more municipalities are trying to join the appeal on the lawsuit as intervening plaintiffs. The additional municipalities can't join the lawsuit with the rest because they didn't participate at the trial-court level, but they are asking the appellate court for a chance to participate because the decision also affects their rights, Minor said.