The city of Raymondville has joined the high tech revolution and will now accept credit cards in payment for services, such as water bills, municipal court fines and advalorem taxes.

$3 fees for each payment made by credit card per $100 will be paid by the card user and not by the city, Eleazar "Yogi" Garcia, city manager, explained.

The city will contract with Hamer Enterprises, the same company hired by the county, city of Lyford and local school districts to provide credit card services.

Zeke Cavazos made the motion to approve the plan which passed unanimously. Commissioner Yolanda Alexandre was absent and did not vote on the matter.

The city has landed a $200,000 grant from Operation Stonegarden to provide overtime pay to police officers, drivers can expect to see an increased presence of traffic patrol cars during the summer months.

Mary Gutierrez, of Cameron Willacy Community Projects, will temporarily relocate her office from Lyford City Hall, which is undergoing remodeling to Raymondville City Hall. Lyford and Sebastian residents can file for food benefits. Mary on the second floor of Raymondville city hall beginning May 1.

Municipal Judge Armin "Mino" Martinez reported $10,045.60 in fines for violations of municipal ordinances during the month of March.

American Cancer Society's Relay for Life will be held at Raymondville's Burnet Stadium, on Friday, night, April 16, 2010. The Relay will have a Mardi Gras theme according to city manager Garcia. "Come ready to walk," he said.

Commissioners agreed to accept the wrong tile at the new Rural Technology Building on FM3168, which is nearing completion. Rather than installing 12-inch tile, the company installed 4-inch tile.

"It has the same color, but it looks different," said Garcia, who recommened that the city accept the mistake. The tile was described as a "cream color with dark borders".

The city will have a surplus equipment sale in the near future, to include an old Suburban SUV now parked behind the police station and a Ford F- 250 truck.

On a motion by Clifton Smith, commissioners denied a request for a waiver of rental fees at the Little League park pavilion, where Villacana Fitness Center wanted to hold a volleyball tournament to raise money for safety gear and uniforms.

The pavilion rental charge is $25 an hour.

Garcia explained that the city has not waived the fees for a commercial endeavor and that it would lead to problems to make such an exception.

Tax collections stand at $818,346.00 from October through March, or 79.0 percent of the total tax levy.

Public Works director Joel Soto said that BFI will make a one time city wide collection of construction materials in the next few days.

Commissioners discussed illegal parking on Riggs Street during Little League games. Despite no parking signs cars park on both sides of the street making it difficult to pass by. There are big crowds at the games and police chief Uvaldo "Valdo" Zamora commented, "We need to begin giving them citations (illegally parked vehicles).

Finally, the city manager reported good news.

"The only asbestos at the old Whitewing hotel is in the tile," he said.

The city intends to tear down the derelict building later this year.