Costs of county trash business continues to increase
Staff reporter
The cost of disposing trash continues to increase.
Marion County Transfer Station Manager Rollin Schmidt told Marion County Commission Monday that when a new contract will be considered by the county with Hamm Quarry, Inc., for solid waste disposal, there will be an additional fuel surcharge of $20.21 per ton or approximately $333 per month.
Schmidt said the company cited the cost of fuel as a reason for the increase. It was noted that when the county began the four-year contract with the company in 2003, fuel was $1.84 per gallon.
During July, there were 4,657 tons of refuse transported in 227 trips to the landfill.
Of the $37.72 per ton cost to transport the waste to the landfill, Schmidt said $19.14 was for tipping (paid to the landfill), indicating that it is costing the county as much to haul it to the landfill as it does to dump.
Schmidt also indicated that Robinson Trucking of Florence will not renew at the current price.
Commission chairman Randy Dallke said the current charge of $81 per residential household per year may have to be increased to cover county expenses.
Schmidt said the bond for the transfer station could be paid early, in 2008, if funds are available. If so, that would free up $100,000 per year for additional charges.
In other business, Schmidt told the commission that the crane at the transfer station was in need of repair and was waiting on parts from California. The crane was purchased new in 2006, but it was believed that the warranty had expired.
In other business:
— The commission reviewed county maps regarding the spraying of noxious weeds. As noxious weed director, Schmidt commented that it was difficult to kill johnson grass because the weed killer does not kill the seed.
— Dallke asked the commission if there were any comments from the public regarding the commission's decision not to mow weeds along county roadways.
The commissioners responded that they had had some comments but had determined early in the summer not to spend money on personnel and equipment to mow.
Schmidt told the commission that Saline County did chemical mowing which is a weed and grass killer that inhibits the growth of grass. He added that he didn't have the manpower to spray every road.
Guardrails will be sprayed yet this fall.
