CLINTON —
The city of Clinton won’t switch to a sticker system to solve solid waste issues in the immediate future, but it could perform a rate study to determine the actual costs of the services it provides.
The sticker system and rate study proposals came before the City Services Committee on Friday from City Administrator Jeff Horne, spurring another lengthy discussion about the problematic system.
“In order to end the issues in regards to solid waste billing, we propose switching to a new system,” Horne said. “We propose going to selling a new type of sticker which would accomplish the goals of providing a demand-based system for citizens and having ease of administration.”
Under the proposal presented Friday, stickers would be sold in the city’s Finance Department and retail locations, as the previous stickers were. They would be color coded for weekly or bi-monthly pickup. Quarterly and annual stickers would also be available and color coded.
This system would allow solid waste fees to be decoupled from sewer bills, $3.5 million of which remain unpaid.
“I’m trying to get away from the billing being tied to the sewers. Cash flow is a problem there and I want an ease of administration,” Horne said.
Horne proposed the stickers would be sold beginning in the first quarter of 2013.
“I have a problem with the stickers, I see us going backwards,” Committee member Charlie Mulholland said.
Committee member Bev Hermann also found the proposed sticker system troubling.
“I think this is going to be totally confusing to people. We’ve done one thing after another after another. People are already thoroughly confused,” she said. “It’s too complicated...I think we need to keep it absolutely simple.”
Instead, Hermann suggested maintaining a single flat fee on customers’ bills.
Council member John Rowland, at-large, was adamant about contracting a private company for the solid waste services, including billing.
“It’s more than billing, its about collecting and that’s our downfall, the collection,” he said. “We must recognize the city has inherited a very dysfunctional billing program...We need to cut our losses and get out of these services.”
Other committee members did not voice alignment with Rowland’s sentiments about contracting with a private company.
All committee members did, however, agree that a cost of services and rate study should be completed to determine if the current $9.75 a month flat fee and the yet-to-be-billed $5.25 monthly fee cover the costs of the solid waste, recycling and yard waste services the city provides. Horne also will investigate what the costs to provide services through a private contractor would be at the request of Rowland.
“I think we all agree we want a resolution,” Horne said.
Local News
September 1, 2012
City may conduct rate study on solid waste services
Proposal to switch back to sticker system also discussed
- Local News
-
- YWCA pushes forward with shelter CLINTON — The Clinton YWCA will no longer receive government funding for its domestic violence and sexual assault resource center, but Executive Director Lori Freudenberg said her organization was prepared and will continue to offer services for vict
- No Headline Provided Baseball AMERICAN LEAGUE East Division W L Pct GB New York 26 16 .619 -- Boston 25 17 .595 1 Baltimore 23 18 .561 2½ Tampa Bay 21 20 .512 4½ Toronto 17 25 .405 9 Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland 23 17 .575 -- Detroit 23 17 .575 -- Kansas City
-
Planning for the future
CLINTON -- No Kohl's. No casino. No development in the Lyons Tech Park. Less tax revenue. More blight. That's what Clinton officials say the city would have if they hadn't used tax increment financing to attract development. Tax increment fina
- No Headline Provided Baseball NATIONAL LEAGUE East Division W L Pct GB Atlanta 23 18 .561 -- Washington 22 19 .537 1 Philadelphia 20 22 .476 3½ New York 16 23 .410 6 Miami 11 31 .262 12½ Central Division W L Pct GB St. Louis 27 14 .659 -- Cincinnati 25 17 .595 2½ Pitts
-
Clinton law enforcement honored
CLINTON — Members of the Clinton Police Department and Clinton County Sheriff's Office commemorated National Police Week with an awards ceremony and a memorial ceremony to honor those who protect the community.
-
2 finalists named for city administrator
CLINTON — Two finalists have been selected in the search for Clinton's next city administrator: Clinton Finance Director and interim City Administrator Jessica Kinser and Joliet, Ill., Assistant City Manager Benjamin Benson.
-
Jail escapee pleads guilty
CLINTON -- A man who escaped from the Clinton County jail on April 6 will spend as much as 10 years in prison. Kendrell Keith, 18, pleaded guilty Thursday to the escape and the second-degree theft charge that put him in jail.
-
Council targets late bills
CLINTON - Business owners won't be able to dodge sewer bills while staying in operation under an ordinance amendment that was approved by City Council members Tuesday.
-
Trying to find a family member
CLINTON — Jean King's heart aches for a daughter she never knew. Christmas time especially brings sorrow and speculation about the daughter she gave up for adoption 36 years ago. "I wonder what she's doing. I wonder if she's successful. I wonder how
- Council explores new solid-waste system CLINTON -- City officials are considering paying the Minnesota firm that evaluated the solid waste system $17,000 to help in the search for a solid-waste service provider. The $17,000 would be paid to Springsted in order for the firm to assemble a r
- More Local News Headlines
