CHAMOIS — At a special meeting last Wednesday, Dec. 27, Chamois aldermen approved using CourtMoney as the online bill pay option for the new water billing software, Small Utility Billing Software (SUBS), which was approved at the last meeting.

City Clerk Meghan Birmingham reported that many neighboring municipalities used CourtMoney for their bill pay. There is no charge to the city for using the online bill pay option, but residents would be charged $2 for any amount under $50 and 4% of the amount for any bill over $50.

Birmingham noted that the charges are similar to what the current system charges customers.

Customers would still have the option to pay by cash or check.

“This is just another option for people,” Birmingham explained. “My understanding is this is much easier to use and does not have the same issues with online bill pay as we have had before.”

SUBS is sending out detailed directions on how to use its online bill-pay service. Birmingham will send out that information to customers, along with their bill, once she receives it. Information and links will also be posted on the city of Chamois’s Facebook page.

Aldermen also approved opening three additional city bank accounts for CourtMoney payments, Streets, and City Marshal at the recommendation of the new City Treasurer, Theresa Walters. SUBS recommended the city have an account for online payments. Walters, who could not attend the meeting due to illness, had relayed that one of the problems she is having with reconciling the finances for the audit is that the money is not divided into separate accounts.

Mayor Marie Slusser particularly wanted an account for the City Marshal so that when tickets are written, and fines accumulate, they can go directly into that account. Slusser also hopes the city gets grant money to pay for part of the City Marshal’s salary. That money could go directly into that account.

“I think we should definitely get the money split up,” said Alderman Cheyanna Wolf.

Aldermen also approved the city getting a debit card to purchase things without the additional fees sometimes involved with a credit card.

The board also approved a budget of $650 for Walters to purchase a laptop.

“We need to get her a laptop so she can continue to work on the audit,” Slusser said. “It’s a little hard for two people to sit back there behind the desk and work on one computer and get things done.”

• The next meeting will be held on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.