Sean C. Morgan
Sweet Home Sanitation is seeking a 4.3-percent increase in residential rates for garbage collection services to take effect in March.
The City Council held the first reading of an ordinance to increase rates during its regular meeting on Nov. 22. The council must read the ordinance two more times before voting whether to adopt it. The second reading will be on Dec. 13. The council typically meets only once in December, so the final reading and decision will likely be on Jan. 10.
Scott Johnson of Sweet Home Sanitation acknowledged to the council last week that a rate adjustment in these economic times is a sensitive subject, but said disposal and fuel costs have increased to the point that the company must increase its rates.
Sweet Home Sanitation has been able to maintain stable rates, he said, but the factors behind this increase are related to “mostly uncontrollable expenses.”
Disposal fees have been going up probably 10 percent per year, Johnson said.
Typical residential customers use a 35-gallon can, paying $20.70 per month will pay $21.59 per month, an increase of 89 cents per month, if the proposed rate table is adopted by the council.
If the rates increased at the full consumer price index, Johnson said, the rate would increase by 5.79 percent, and the increase would be $1.22 per month.
Solid waste costs at the transfer station would increase from $18 for 500 pounds or less to $18.75. For loads greater than 500 pounds, the cost would increase from $59.50 per ton to $62 per ton.
Sweet Home Sanitation last raised rates in 2009, said City Manager Craig Martin. The company requested and the council approved a 3.5-percent increase in residential and commercial rates.
Present at the meeting were councilors Marybeth Angulo, Mayor Craig Fentiman, Ron Rodgers and Mike Hall.
In other business, the council appointed Camille Young as the high school senior representative and Erik Garcia as an at-large representative to the Youth Advisory Council.
Three positions remain open, including a sophomore representative, an at-large junior high representative and an at-large youth representative.
Anyone qualifying for one of the positions may apply at City Hall, 1140 12th Ave. at the city manager’s office, (541) 367-8969.
Anyone age 12 to 19 qualifies for the at-large youth position.