St. Paul's city gas station opens around the clock and stops taking cash at the pump

The City of St. Paul's gas pumps opened around the clock Tuesday, Nov. 3, at a newly built station whose payment system takes only debit and credit cards. Cash and checks are no longer accepted, the city announced and its website says.

The switch affects fuel buyers on St. Paul Island. The city says it sells gasoline, diesel, marine diesel and heating fuel to residents, visitors and vessels.

Until now, the station's published hours ran from 1:30 to 6:30 pm on weekdays, with Saturday hours added in summer, and it closed on city holidays. The city's fuel services page had listed cash, checks, cards on file at the City Cashier Office and accounts as accepted payment.

The change covers the gas station only. Heating fuel can still be paid for with cash, checks or cards at the City Cashier Office, and marine fuel at the dock is still sold on city accounts only, the current page says.

Customers activate the pumps at a payment terminal inside the station building, where instructions are posted, the city says. Bulk fuel operators are on hand this week during normal business hours to show customers how to use the new system.

The station sells gasoline at $8.38 a gallon and diesel at $8.76, plus taxes, under the city's rate schedule effective Aug. 24. The schedule also lists a $35 fee for a declined card or bounced check.

Stored card information for anyone who kept a card on file with the city to charge fuel at the station will be destroyed by the end of next week, the announcement says.

Questions or concerns about the new system go to City Manager Phillip Zavadil.