Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Payments Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges countywide debit/credit policy after ATM proposal was tabled
Summary
At the Feb. 4 Wallowa County commissioners meeting, a resident urged the board to adopt a countywide policy on debit and credit card acceptance and cautioned about security and cost risks tied to a previously tabled proposal to place an ATM in the auditor’s office.
At its Feb. 4 meeting, the Wallowa County Board of Commissioners heard public comment urging the board to adopt a countywide debit and credit card policy and advising caution about a previously tabled proposal to place an ATM in the auditor’s office.
Marjorie Sanborn, a Wallowa County resident, told commissioners the agenda item to place an ATM in the auditor’s office had been tabled and argued the county should adopt a single policy requiring consistent payment processing across departments. “There was an agenda item about placing an ATM into the auditor's office, which was eventually tabled,” Sanborn said. She recommended the county centralize payment processing so information technology staff can support a single vendor, employees can develop expertise, and the county could secure volume discounts.
Sanborn raised security and administrative concerns about ad hoc handling of cash in county offices, saying staff in one office were walking deposits to the bank nightly instead of using armored courier services and that practice could raise insurance and safety risks. She said a countywide approach would let the county evaluate debit and credit processing distinctions and account for legal limits on debit-card fees and other costs.
Commissioners acknowledged the comment but told Sanborn that the board’s authority is limited when it comes to other elected officials’ operations. Commissioners said they could set contract requirements for county agreements but cannot compel an independently elected officer to accept cards.
The meeting also included routine procedural votes: the board approved the meeting agenda and later voted to adjourn; both motions carried 3-0. The board convened an executive session for applicant employment and returned to open session without public detail.
The public commenter said she will follow up with the board by email with additional information and urged the county to seek competitive bids if it proceeds with any ATM contract to ensure the county receives the best terms.
