Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home City Council adopted ordinances last week raising garbage service rates by 4.3 percent and implementing a local law against possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
The council held the third reading of each of the ordinances during its regular meeting on Jan. 10.
The first ordinance allows Sweet Home Sanitation to raise trash collection rates. The rate increase will take effect in March.
Sweet Home Sanitation asked for the rate increase because disposal and fuel costs have increased, according to Scott Johnson of Sweet Home Sanitation. The company has been able to maintain stable rates, but the factors behind this increase are “mostly uncontrollable expenses.”
Sweet Home Sanitation’s disposal fees have been going up by probably 10 percent year, Johnson told the council.
Typical residential customers, who use a 35-gallon can, have been paying $20.70 per month. They will pay $21.59 per month, an increase of 80 cents per month.
If rates increased by the full consumer price index, they would have increased by $1.22 per month, Johnson said.
Costs at the transfer station will increase from $18 for 500 pounds or less to $18.75. For loads greater than 500 pounds, the cost increases from $59.50 per ton to $62 per ton.
Sweet Home Sanitation last raised rates within the city in 2009, when the council approved a 3.5 percent increase in residential and commercial rates.
The second ordinance localizes the law against possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Currently, the violation is based on state law.
Localizing the law allows the city to keep most of the fine, said City Attorney Robert Snyder. Right now, all of the fines, $500, are sent to the state government.
The fine for the ordinance increased at the first of the year to a presumptive $650, Snyder said. The fine can range from $520 to $2,000.
Under the ordinance, the city will send a smaller assessment, approximately $60, to the state while retaining the remainder.
The ordinance allows first-time offenders to take diversion, and it allows the Municipal Court to suspend licenses after conviction.
The ordinance will take effect on Feb. 9.
Present and voting for the ordinances were Marybeth Angulo, Mayor Craig Fentiman, Jim Gourley, Mike Hall, Greg Mahler and Scott McKee Jr. Ron Rodgers was absent.
In other business, the council:
n Approved a request for $700 from Reece Meyers to help with his Eagle Scout project, constructing and installing two picnic tables and two standing charcoal park grills to be used at Strawberry Park.
The funds are from the Special Fun Parks and Recreation Program, and it is restricted to parks and recreation projects.
The projected cost of the project is $1,600, said Community Development Director Carol Lewis. All other funds will be donated or supplied by Meyers. The project is scheduled to begin at the end of the month.
Meyers based his project on input from Community Development staff as to what is needed in the city parks.
n Reappointed Bud Mather to a new two-year term on the Traffic Safety Committee. His term will end on Jan. 9, 2014.