Isanti committee agrees informally to waive $30 returned-check fee after resident’s stop payment

The Isanti Committee of the Whole discussed a resident request to waive a $30 returned-check fee after a city check addressed only to “City of Isanti” was returned and the resident, Julia Overson, placed a stop payment.

City staff reported the check was received by the city, deposited and then returned after Overson asked her bank to stop payment when she believed the check was lost. Staff told the committee the municipal banking services agreement did not assess additional bank fees for that return. Resident Julia Overson’s request was brought forward by staff for council consideration.

Council members voiced sympathy for Overson’s position and several said they would support waiving the $30 fee. “I have no problem with waiving that $30 fee,” an attending councilmember said during the discussion. Staff replied that the fee is listed in the city’s fee schedule and that formal action by the council would be needed to change the charge.

Because staff reported no third-party bank fee was incurred, council members framed a waiver as a customer-service decision rather than a reimbursement of a bank charge. No formal motion or recorded vote was taken at the Committee of the Whole meeting; instead members agreed informally to the waiver and asked that council be put in a position to formalize the direction at a regular meeting if required.

The committee asked staff to place the item on a future agenda with the recommended language needed to enact the waiver formally so the council can act under its fee schedule. The committee then moved to the next agenda item.