McLeansboro residents will get to use credit cards soon to pay city bills and fines.

City Clerk Fred Vallowe says the City Council approved the item at Tuesday night’s meeting following a public hearing on the matter before the meeting.

Vallowe says the city has a goal to begin offering the new option the first week of March. This date is   contingent on getting the widget up on the website, and the card reader lined up with the other hardware/software, etc. The service charge is 2.95 percent of the bill. There will be no flat fee.

The service is being offered due to the public requesting it. Vallowe added that the city has had positive feedback regarding this service from vacationers and out-of-town folks who have their in-town parent’s powers of attorney. No negative comments were offered at last night’s public hearing. Twenty-three members of the public were present.