Bob Foos
The Webb City Council agreed on Monday to accept the balance of funds left over when the Southwest Missouri Electric Railway Association dissolves.
James Dawson, president of the association and a 4th Ward council member, announced that the non-profit association is in the process of dissolving. He estimated there will be $13,000 left in the account, which can legally be donated to the city.
Jerry Fisher, the association treasurer and 3rd Ward council member, was attending the meeting by phone.
The city has been paying many of the bills associated with maintaining the tracks on which Streetcar No. 60 runs two Saturdays a month and three weekends after Thanksgiving as the Polar Bear Express.
Association volunteers operate the streetcar. And Dawson said the core group will continue to coordinate the volunteer operators.
The association was chartered in 1980, as restoration of the streetcar was being completed.
Mayor Lynn Ragsdale acknowledged the trust shown in the city to continue the streetcar’s operation. “We’ll do the best we can to fulfill the dream,” he said.
Webb City expects to save a substantial amount of money since the City Council on Monday authorized a change in credit card processing firms. Customers using credit cards online or at City Hall may also see a small deduction.
Finance Director Natasha Gossett studied the matter after seeing the city’s monthly fees from Global Payments rise to a monthly average of $10,000. After the city passes on a portion of the charge to customers, she says the city’s cost is still around $7,000 per month.
The council approved her recommendation to switch to BancCard/MSB, which is affiliated with Mid-Missouri Bank.
By doing so, Garrett projects the city will save $100,000 annually. That’s because BancCard/MSB will collect its fees directly from the credit card users.
Credit card users will be charged 2.85% (2.89% currently) of the amount charged, or a minimum of $2 per transaction, which is 25¢ less than the current minimum charge.
As a high-volume user, Garrett said the city is not being charged the typical startup costs, risk assessment and funding fees. Ten payment devices will be provided for free. Being affiliated with Mid-Missouri Bank is also a plus because the local bank has “consistently gone above and beyond in serving the City’s needs.
« »
In other action, the council:
• Completed approval (second reading) of an ordinance setting speed limits and school zones.
• Approved second reading of an ordinance that rezones 1326 W. Sixth St. to allow a duplex (R-2). The property already has a single-family house (R-1) facing Sixth Street, which will be included in the rezone but not affected. The duplex, in back of the house, will be more on Zigler Street.
• Accepted first reading of a standard council bill regarding disclosure of conflicts of interest.
• Approved the mayoral appointment of Sherrey Kent to the Webb City Housing Authority Board of Directors.
