Thorpe parking rates rise with credit at kiosks

Motorists parking in Jim Thorpe borough will have the choice of using credit and debit cards when parking kiosk pay stations replace coin operated meters, but the luxury will come at an added cost.

Council voted Thursday night to increase the cost of a metered spot from $1 per hour to $1.25 per hour, at least for those paying with a credit or debit card. If the kiosk machines are able to handle two different price structures, the cost will be $1 per hour for those using cash or coins.

According to borough officials, the move was made to help offset credit card company processing fees that the municipality will incur with the upcoming addition of parking kiosks downtown.

Jim Thorpe is replacing its 77 parking meters downtown with seven kiosk stations and, in addition to accepting quarters, $1 bills, $5 bills, $10 bills and $20 bills, the machines will take credit and debit cards.

There will also be no option to pay for 15 minutes or a half-hour as the minimum time selection will be an hour.

Different credit card companies charge different processing fees for a transaction, but according to Borough Manager Maureen Sterner, the average is around 2.15 percent plus 15 cents.

“We started looking at things and unless we raise the parking rate, accepting credit cards was going to end up costing us in the long run,” Sterner said.

The borough’s estimates had it taking a hit between $9,000 and $45,000 per year unless a rate increase was adopted.

In the end, the increase is a de facto convenience fee for consumers being able to use a credit card. Jim Thorpe currently charges a convenience fee to customers who pay their utility bill online using a credit card, but it doesn’t have that ability with the kiosk.

It is the second time the borough raised the parking rate in two years. At the end of 2015, council increased the rate from $0.50 an hour to $1 hour. That increase was expected to generate $60,000 per year.

At the time, council said it was increasing rates to “bring the town in line with other tourist destinations, go toward a matching grant, and help pay for additional officer time downtown to help with traffic control.”

The price of parking illegally is also on the rise. Tickets will go up by $5.

“If you had a $10 violation, it will now be $15 and so forth,” Sterner said. “We were pretty low compared to surrounding areas and again, we want to make sure we’re not losing money.”

Important dates

The borough announced it will have its fall tire and electronic recycling event Saturday from 7 to 11:30 a.m. at the borough garage located at 101 E. Ninth St. Only borough residents may recycle and identification is required.

There is a limit of two televisions per household and any tires can’t have rims on them.

Meanwhile, leaf pick up will start Oct. 30 and run through Nov. 9.

“Just rake them out to the curb and we’ll get them,” said Public Services Manager Vince Yaich.

Finally, trick or treat night will be held Oct. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Vacancies

Council announced several vacancies it is trying to fill.

There is one vacancy each on the borough’s Shade Tree Commission and the police pension board.

An opening also exists for the borough’s emergency management coordinator position.