Florence to raise rates on trash, water
Staff writer
The Florence City Council reviewed ordinances to increase rates for solid waste and water services at a special meeting Thursday. They will decide on the ordinances at the next meeting July 5.
The council voted to increase trash rates by approximately 30 percent across the board. The rate increase would give Florence an increased revenue of $20,000 to $25,000, which could be used to purchase a new trash truck or give nine city employees a 3 percent raise, council member Trayce Warner said.
Last year, Florence spent $13,000 on repairs to its trash truck.
“It beats the hell out of making payments on a truck,” council member Randy Mills said.
Currently, the city charges $7.75 per month for residential trash service. The ordinance would increase the rate to $10 per month. A trash bin rental currently costs $16 and would increase to $20. Rural pickup is $8.75 and would increase to $10.75. Commercial is $14.75 but would be $20.
Rates to Cedar Point and Aulne, who pay Florence after charging their residents, will also be increased.
“If we’re going to make people mad, we might as well go all the way,” council member Ed Robinson said.
Warner originally brought in a plan to increase rates and her plan was modified slightly. Mills increased the rate for trash bins.
“That’s where the wear and tear occurs on the damn truck,” he said.
The council briefly discussed selling the truck to either a company such as Stutzman Refuse Service or Florence’s full-time trash man Danny Kyle to operate the trash service as a business. Kyle is one of the highest paid city employees, earning more than $30,000 per year, Warner said.
“What’s the long term goal of the solid waste service?” council member John Swarm asked. “To provide a service and turn a profit.”
The ordinance will also modify the current billing system, which uses 16 or more categories to bill customers. The system factors miles between rural trash bins and residences with multiple trash bins. Warner said the number of categories was excessive and wanted to see the billing system trimmed to 10 categories, the number of categories before the city office changed to a new bookkeeping system in 2008.
The ordinance for water would increase water charges from $5 per 1,000 gallons to $8 per 1,000 gallons per month.
The flat rate for water service will remain the same at $18 for the first 2,000 gallons of water used.
The water increase would cover unforeseen repairs at the water plant, installed in 2004, Warner said. The most recent breaks were in the blocks of each tank and in a check valve.
For a time, Florence was paying a technician, who was familiar with the system, to drive from Colorado. The cost of each repair was nearly $6,000, Warner said.
Water rates have not increased since the water plant was built, Warner added.