Plastic Payments OK'd For City Hall, Pool

PRAIRIE GROVE -- City Hall and Prairie Grove Aquatic Park will now accept credit and debit cards for those who prefer to pay with plastic.

Prairie Grove City Council, at its June 15 meeting, agreed to accept credit card payments at the request of Larry Oelrich, director of administrative services and public works.

"We're living in a credit card generation," Oelrich said, noting that one-third of the customers who come into City Hall to purchase a pet license or get a yard sale permit or pay for building permits do not have cash or a check with them and have to leave and then come back.

The same applies to patrons who come to the pool. Many people want to use a credit or debit card to pay the pool admission fees or buy snacks and drinks at the concession stand.

"I do think this is something we've got to address because it's just getting to be the norm," Oelrich said. "People do not have that wad of cash in their billfolds anymore."

Prairie Grove Water Department and District Court already accept credit cards but pass bank fees onto the credit card user.

Oelrich said he believes the city should absorb fees to use a credit card at City Hall and the aquatic center. A proposal from Arvest Bank for credit card fees shows additional charges vary based on the amount of the transaction and the number of transactions. For example, the fee to use a credit card for a yard sale permit would be .5 percent, whereas the fee at the aquatic center would be 5.7 percent.

He acknowledged allowing credit card payments would cost the city, especially at the aquatic center. Oelrich estimated credit card fees at the pool could add up to about $2,000 over a season. Eventually, he said the city may have to raise fees to cover these additional costs.

In other action, council members approved a resolution to give Mayor Sonny Hudson authority to negotiate on certain properties. Hudson said he has been approached by someone interested in the former water department building and the old maintenance facility across the street. This same person owns property near Mock Park that would benefit the city.

Hudson said he will probably talk to the interested party about trading properties. The resolution also gives Hudson authority to negotiate on the former police department and district court building on Buchanan Street. Another person has expressed interest in this property.

Any negotiated deals will have to come back to the City Council for final approval.

The city will overlay the following streets as part of its street improvement program this year: Summit, East Graham, Center, Battle and Palm.

The city also has received preliminary approval for $200,000 in state aid money for road improvements in 2016. This would be used to overlay Butler Road, North Mock Street and Jenkins Road.