Customers can now pay by credit card in all city departments

Payments will incur an additional 3% fee

by Melissa Martin

Sept. 1 city council meeting

City council has approved legislation amending the city’s agreement with PayTrace to let the processor collect a 3% fee straight from customers who elect to pay by credit card at the Community Center and Human Services Center.

A companion ordinance extends the same fee structure to electronic payments across all city departments, including Mayor’s Court, said Finance Director Laura Starosta.

The change mirrors legislation council approved earlier this year that allowed customers to pay by credit card in the city’s building department, Starosta said, noting that residents who continue to pay by cash or check will not be charged the fee.

Riverview culvert project

In other news, city Engineer Gerry Wise told council that the bid openings for the Riverview Road culvert replacement project occurred in late August with DiGioia Suburban Excavating submitting the lowest bid of $347,977.

Wise said the bid comes in at approximately 7% over the engineer’s estimate, largely due to the cost of the precast culvert itself.

The project, Wise said, will require a full road closure this fall between Chippewa and Snowville roads. Detour signs will be erected directing traffic around the closure using state Route 21 and state Route 82.

Council separately approved a $200,000 cost-sharing agreement with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District to help fund the work.

New firefighter

Council passed a resolution appointing Thomas R. Carnifax as a part-time firefighter/paramedic for the Brecksville Fire Department. Carnifax, who previously worked as a part-time firefighter for the Canal Fulton Fire Department, is a graduate of Howland High School in Warren. He later attended Northwestern University in Illinois and completed fire academy training at Akron General.

Mayor Daryl Kingston administered the oath of office, noting that Carnifax wanted to join the department since he rode along with the crew as an EMT trainee.

Council also approved:

• A memorandum of understanding with six other communities, including Bedford, Broadview Heights, Brooklyn Heights, Cuyahoga Heights, Independence, Newburgh Heights and Valley View, to jointly pursue a regional Assistance to Firefighters grant for radio equipment.
• A liquor permit transfer from the County Line Saloon to PAC County Line Saloon LLC.
• A resolution renewing the city’s Black Box phone system maintenance contract for $7,960.