Lake Zurich officials will study electronic payment option for residents

Lake Zurich residents who run late paying their bills may find a solution in the near future.

A recent problem with late payments by residents led village officials to consider installing a new electronic payment (E-Pay) program.

Finance Director Jodie Andrew said several municipalities have already implemented the program, which allows customers to pay water bills, permits, and other village-related expenses with credit cards, bank cards or electronic checks over the counter, online or by phone.

“If someone gets a shut-off notice and can’t get to town ... they might take the option to pay (their bill) online with a debit card or electronic check because of the ease of convenience and timing,” Andrew said.

Dan Peterson, the village’s director of building and zoning, said complaints about inconvenience have increased since a drive-through bank behind village hall and the Bank of America branch closed downtown.

On Monday, nine people who came to village hall to pay permit fees were turned away because the village couldn’t accept credit cards.

“People come in thinking they can use plastic and we tell them we need a check or cash,” Peterson said.

Trustee Jonathon Sprawka said he’d like to see residents have the option to stop receiving water bills in the mail.

“Encouraging people to go auto pay and opt out of receiving that mailer would be phenomenal,” he said.

But before E-Pay can be considered, officials have to decide whether a 2.1 percent transaction fee to use the program will be absorbed by the village or passed on to customers.

If 10 percent of residents used E-Pay to pay water bills and the village paid their fees, the village would spend about $10,000 a year, Andrews estimated.

Trustees agreed Monday’s village board meeting that consumers should pay their own credit card fees.

Trustee Jeff Halen said he’s interested to hear more about the program using credit cards once Andrews takes the board’s suggestions into consideration.

Andrews said once the structure of the program is outlined, a public hearing to discuss the program will be scheduled.