GENTRY — City council on Monday approved paying a $500 setup fee to make it possible for city water and sewer customers to pay their monthly water bills at any Walmart (or other businesses which choose to contract with the vendor providing the service through Walmart stores).

The water and sewer committee on July 26 discussed a proposal from Walmart to provide a service whereby city water and sewer customers could pay their city bills at Gentry’sWalmart store or any other Walmart store in the nation.

The proposed service will not replace currentlyoffered payment options but provide another convenience for customers.

The only cost to the city for the service would be a one-time setup fee of $500 (a $2,000 option was offered if the city should choose a direct-send option) and funds would be transferred to the city within one to three business days.

Cost to the customer for the service would be 88 cents for the standard option and $1.88 for a nextday option.

The committee requested the mayor further research the service, including contacting other cities which use the service, and report back at the next committee meeting.

Convenience for water customers was one of the reasons considered as a positive point for enrolling in the service. Customers who are shopping at Walmart could pay their city bills while there and not need to mail them in or make a trip to the city offices. An online option is also included through the service.

Another convenience mentioned by Mayor Kevin Johnston is the option of paying city bills even while away on business or vacation. Customers would still need their city account numbers to use the service.

Though the city will pay a one-time setup fee, Johnston said the service could quickly pay for itself if customers pay their bills on time and the city can avoid the labor costs related to turning water off and then back on again when a customer fails to pay by the city’s shutoff deadline.

Setup will take six to eight weeks before the service become available.

News, Pages 7 on 10/05/2011