From left: Councilmember Tim Croy, Clerk-Treasurer Nicki Norris, Council President Jill Gross. InkFreeNews photo by Kory Stoneburner-Betts.

MENTONE — Clerk-Treasurer Nicki Norris updated the town council on an online payment system for the town, March 4.

Norris said she is ready to set up the town to accept online payments through pay.gov, a government payment processing service.

Once active, town residents will be able to pay their town utility bills through pay.gov. A card reader may also be installed in the Clerk-Treasurer’s office to process payments in person by credit or debit card.

All payments will be handled through the pay.gov website, meaning the town doesn’t need to develop its own website for residents to make payments, according to Norris.

“This is something we’ve needed for a long time,” said Council President Jill Gross.

Payment by cash or check has long been the only form of payment accepted by the Clerk-Treasurer’s office.

Town Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd echoed the need for an updated payment system, specifically the ability to pay by card in the Clerk’s office.

Shepherd mentioned he recently sold cemetery plots. The buyer said he intended to pay at the Clerk-Treasurer’s office, according to Shepherd. When Shepherd told the buyer he couldn’t pay by card, he said the buyer responded, “You do realize what year we’re in?”

“There aren’t many places where you can’t use a debit card,” Shepherd told the council.

Town Marshall Jim Eads suggested online and card payments may cut down on the number of utilities shut off by Shepherd.

“They would just come in or online, use their credit card and pay at the last minute,” he said.

According to Gross, once the new payment system is active, the town will notify residents through media and with a note on an upcoming utility bill.

Other business included:

• District 22 State Representative candidate Bill Dixon attended the council meeting. Dixon mentioned he campaigned in the town before the meeting. “I knocked on 50 doors,” he said. Dixon said he would return later for more canvassing.
  

  District 22 State Representative candidate Bill Dixon. InkFreeNews Photo by Kory Stoneburner-Betts.

• Mentone Youth League President Derek Adamson will work with the town on organizing a parade for the league’s opening day on May 2.
• Cub Scout Pack 3777 out of Burket will work with Shepherd to plant trees in Mentone. The pack recently participated in a fingerprinting class with the Mentone Police Department. “They’re an exceptional group of kids,” said Eads.
• The council approved for Town Attorney Andrew Grossnickle to send notices to KCOnline for delinquent payments related to the wireless internet service for the town.
• The council tabled the decision to extend or deny the use of town utilities to a property on SR 19/Franklin Street on the town’s south side. Gross stated the council should talk to the property owner and the Board of Health.
• The council approved Ead’s purchase of two new squad vehicle computers for $2,739.90 from CopsGear in Columbia City.
  

  Mentone Youth League President Derek Adamson. InkFreeNews photo by Kory Stoneburner-Betts.

• Cemetery cleanup will be April 1, according to Shepherd. All Christmas decorations on graves should be removed before April 1.
• May 20 will be a special trash day. Each household will be able to discard one large item, according to Eads.
• The next Mentone Town Council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. April 1 in the community room at the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building.