The City of Minden held its regularly scheduled monthly city council meeting on Monday evening, where to council and mayor tackled the agenda for the city, including Minden Police Department hires and transfers, a change to how credit and debit card transaction fees are conducted, and recognition of those who participated in National Night Out events throughout the city.
The first item of note on the agenda was that of the city unanimously voting to change the way credit and debit card fees are handled when the city receives payments utilizing those methods. Originally, the city simply charged a flat rate on the usage of credit and debit cards, but is now switching to a percentage-based fee system due to losing money in previous years.
“The way we handle credit card and debit card transaction fees is a pretty old system where we charge a flat fee of $3.50, and the City of Minden has been losing money every year. Last year we lost, on online credit card transaction fees, about $30,000, because we’re not passing on the credit card fees on to the credit card users,” said Mayor Nick Cox.
“So the proposed ordinance will set the credit card transaction fee rate at 3% or a $3.50 minimum, whichever is greater, and that maxes out at a charge of $200.”
The Minden Police Department saw a transfer of one of their officers from part-time to full-time employment with them, that being Officer Matthew Hicks. The council unanimously approved of this transfer, as well as the hiring of a new full-time police officer, Dedrick Anderson Jr.
The mayor, council, and Police Chief Jared McIver wanted to share their appreciation for those who participated in hosting parties during the National Night Out campaign that took place last month, including Hillside Apartments and Kay and Jerald McGuire in District A, the Greater Blessing Church of God in Christ in District B, and Nelda Davis and Lindsay McClaran in District D.
“This year we were appreciative of everyone who hosted these parties. The mayor and I were able to go and make all of them, and it was a great time. We had a good time as well getting to meet everyone, answer questions, and that’s what it was about, community relations, so we wanted to recognize those who hosted it,” said Chief McIver.
Shortly after receiving one of these proclamations on behalf of his wife, former Minden Mayor Tommy Davis saw fit to share some words of appreciation with the mayor and city council.
“This is the first time I’ve been to a city council meeting this year. The last one was December of last year where I sat in that chair. I had the opportunity to meet with this council several times before they actually took office, and I told them there was one big thing that the City of Minden expected out of them and wanted out of them, and that was for them to get along, and to my knowledge, that has happened. So my congratulations. The City of Minden is proud of y’all. We appreciate what you’re doing for our city. Thank you,” said Davis.
The Minden City Council meeting takes place on the first Monday of each month, starting at 6 PM at Minden City Hall. The meeting is open to the public to attend, and for those that can’t be there in person, or wish to view the meeting after the fact, the meetings are streamed live on the City of Minden’s YouTube channel and Facebook page titled, City of Minden – Feels Like Home.