Fillmore now offering credit card option for payments

FILLMORE -- In their ongoing efforts to get and keep customers up-to-date on utility payments, Town of Fillmore officials have added credit and debit cards to the list of ways to pay utility bills.

The Fillmore Town Council announced the new program during its Thursday, Feb. 4 meeting.

For a convenience fee of 3 percent ($1 minimum), Fillmore utility customers can now pay with Visa, MasterCard or Discover. Card payments can be made in person at Town Hall, via phone at 246-6711 or online at paygov.us.

"Hopefully it will encourage people who don't write checks or don't carry cash to pay," Clerk-Treasurer Tom Gilson said.

The town is continuing with its plans turning water off to certain properties.

Gilson reported that 25 disconnects were made in January, and all but three of these came in to make payment arrangements.

"We did get quite a bit more money this month than we did last month, but shutting some water off," Gilson said.

At one property, the occupants turned their own water back on, as the town was out of locks at the time. It was subsequently turned back off and locked. If the water is turned on again, a police officer will accompany the utility worker to turn it off.

More disconnects will be coming on Tuesday, Feb. 23 for delinquent accounts.

There was also discussion of liens and lawsuits against utility customers who get seriously delinquent on their accounts.

New Town Attorney Jeff Boggess said both options are possible, depending on what route town officials would like to take.

The hiring of Boggess was announced on Thursday. He replaces Mary Russell, who had served as town attorney for a number of years.

In hiring Boggess, town officials fulfill a previously-stated wish to have a local attorney instead of the Lafayette-based Russell.

"We want to have somebody who's accessible and local," Gilson said. "He's right across from the courthouse, so he can easily access the things we need."

"I'm glad to help," Boggess said.

In other business:

* The Fillmore Police Department is joining the Indiana Marshals Association, as had been discussed in the January meeting.

One of the main benefits of membership will come in the low-cost training provided to officers during the biannual conferences of the Marshals Association.

* The pipe that runs under Westwood Road, also discussed in January, should be replaced in February, dependent upon weather.