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Clark County customers will soon have the option of paying their bills via credit card online.
Clark County commissioners recently unanimously approved contracts with First Mobile Trust and Heartland Payment Systems that will allow customers to pay for utility bills and others using the county website.
County Administrator Nathan Kennedy said all the county departments will have the option to use the service, but he noted the decision to participate will be made by each department head.
“(It will be used) primarily for utilities, but it does allow community development contractors to pay for inspection fees,” Kennedy said.
He said the option will be available on the county website in a couple months.
Customers who use the option will be charged a minimal convenience fee, Kennedy said.
Clark County Department of Utilities Director Chuck Bauer said his department, which has 9,000 customers, plans to use it.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Bauer said. “…We’ve had a number of inquiries over a number of years. There’s been significant interest. Hopefully, it provides flexibility to our customers.”
Elissa Hensley, a business manager in the utilities department, said she thinks many of their customers will use it.
“It will give them another option to pay their bill. I hear a lot of people say, ‘You’re the only place where I can’t pay online,’ ” Hensley said. “They just like the convenience of paying online and knowing that it’s paid.”
Clark County Clerk of Courts Ron Vincent said he would consider using the service for the Clark County Title Department.
Treasurer Stephen Metzger said customers will not have the option to pay property taxes. Metzger added that customers can already make electronic payments from their checking accounts. He said he thinks the convenience fee for large tax payments will be too high.
Auditor John Federer said his department has allowed customers to purchase dog tags online since 2011. Federer said the number of customers purchasing tags online has increased each year.
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