ROWLAND — Rowland residents will soon be able to pay their taxes and water bills by credit card.

Oryan Lowry, the town’s administrator, gave the Rowland Board of Commissioners an update Tuesday on the town’s new payment processing system. In July, the commissioners accepted a $28,400 offer from Southern Software to install programs for billing, payroll and other services.

“It will give us an opportunity to take debit and credit cards, which is something the citizens have been requesting for years,” Lowry said.

Employees from Southern Software will visit Rowland on Thursday to train town employees on how to use the new programs.

People living outside the town’s limits may soon be able to pay their bills by credit card, as well. Lowry told the commissioners that Cindy Lowry, tax administrator for Robeson County, had recently informed him of the county’s plan to offer a pilot program for billing customers in “remote areas” near Rowland.

“A lot of people have to go all the way to Lumberton to pay their water bills if they live outside the city limits,” he said.

Jessie Watson, the town’s Public Works director, told the commissioners that landscaper Troy Price had given a $1,350 estimate for removing an overgrown tree near U.S. 301 South. The matter was tabled after Commissioner Paul Hunt pointed out that the town only has $1,000 budgeted for tree removal services.

“If somebody else has a problem, it’s going to be hard to help them out,” Hunt said.

Before adjourning, the commissioners scheduled the town’s annual Christmas dinner for 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 1.