“We just had a street levy pass and it just barely passed,” Lowrey said. “People are taxed to death.”
Pending council approval, a $3 monthly fee could be added to regular rates and be returned to a city fund yet to be determined as a way to boost revenues, possibly for street repair. The bidders also proposed rates without a franchise fee.
“The city manager feels it’s the way to repair streets, and that’s just fine and dandy, but (the fee) will be passed on to the consumer,” Lowrey said.
City Manager Kim Jones argued it’s a fee the city would charge the trash hauler to be able to do business in the city, but said that it likely would be passed on to the consumer.
She doesn’t consider it a tax because residents have a choice in how they use the service, adding that those who recycle could further reduce their costs through an incentive program.
“I was trying to think outside the box,” Jones said. “We’re not in the red, but we don’t have a lot of money and we need to cut expenses and bring in more revenue.”
Time Warner Cable, for example, charges a franchise fee of city residents, and waste collection franchise fees are common in other communities, she said.
Councilman Ethan Reynolds said he was leaning toward a no vote to the fee, but said he wanted to hear from waste collection representatives, city staff, fellow council members and the public at a work session Thursday before deciding.
Councilwoman Jane Manemann and Mayor Lowell McGlothin both said they are waiting for the work session before making a decision.
Councilmen Richard Zsambok and Mike Lowrey could not be reached for comment in time for this story.
In the running for the contract are Waste Management and Rumpke.
Council will have to decide on a new contract by the end of June when the current contract with Republic expires.
Republic was voted out of the bid running by council last week because it didn’t conform with the city’s bid specifications for a yard waste collection program.
The work session Thursday will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Smith Park Shelter House, 801 W. Jefferson St. Public input will be requested.
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