Richmond Hill residents will soon pay a 3 percent processing fee on top of their bill if they use a credit or debit card to pay water and sewer bills.

City Council members unanimously approved an amendment to the city revenue’s ordnance requiring the fee at Tuesday night’s meeting after a second reading of the measure.

A first reading was approved at the council’s May 21 meeting. The city will begin assessing the fee July 1. Mayor Harold Fowler said the city won’t make a profit off the extra income.

"We’re just passing on what it costs us to the customer," he said.

Finance director Bob Whitmarsh told council members it cost the city some $30,000 in service charges last year to accept payments using Visa and MasterCard.

See full story in June 8 issue of the Bryan County News.