[{"_1":2,"_84":-5,"_85":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6179231,"mediaKeyId","5131743-92bb5015c2f8e4eb4898736659a98b3a","parentId",5131743,"title","Lucas County proposes raising solid-waste fixed fee to $25 to fund local material-recovery facility","audioSeconds",536,"startMs",1283070,"endMs",1820000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5131743-92bb5015c2f8e4eb4898736659a98b3a&start=1283&end=1820","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6179231/Lucas-County/Ohio/Lucas-County-proposes-raising-solid-waste-fixed-fee-to-25-to-fund-local-material-recovery-facility","mediaUrl","author","Lucas County OH","date","2025-06-24T00:00:00Z","article","Lucas County sanitary engineering director Jim Shaw proposed increasing the county’s fixed solid-waste fee from $5 to $25 per improved parcel to generate revenue for a proposed material recovery facility and related programs.

At a June 24 public hearing in Springfield Township, Shaw said the county has secured roughly $12 million in grants to remediate a former landfill site where a material recovery facility — or MRF — would be built. \"I'm recommending, that in order to, generate additional revenue for debt and operational costs, increase the fixed fee from $5 per year to $25 per year,\" Shaw said. He told the board the change would show on the tax duplicate as $12.50 per half and would be certified to the auditor by the second Monday in September if approved.

Shaw said the county is pursuing the MRF to reduce trucking costs and retain more recyclable material for local resale. He estimated construction costs at the 30–50% design stage between $20 million and $25 million and said the facility could employ approximately 15 to 25 people depending on throughput and whether a second shift is required. Shaw said the county would own the facility but would contract operations to an experienced private operator; he named Balcones Resources/Circular Services as a draft partner and said a formal announcement might follow.

Shaw described the fee structure and history: Ohio legislation (House Bill 592, 1989, as discussed at the hearing) required counties to prepare solid-waste management plans and allowed funding via disposal fees and fixed assessments. Lucas County implemented a fixed assessment in 2014 of $5 per improved parcel and retains a separate $5.20 per-ton landfill disposal fee that Shaw proposed not to change. The proposed fixed-fee increase to $25 per improved parcel would generate stable revenue to support MRF debt service and operations and reduce reliance on variable disposal fees tied to landfill tonnage.

Trustee Michael Hood and other local officials in attendance asked whether assessment revenues could be pooled into county investment accounts to reduce rate pressure; Shaw said tax receipts are handled by the county treasurer and that staff would follow up with the county auditor/treasurer and county prosecutor for clarification. Hood also asked whether the county could use fee proceeds for other district needs; Shaw answered that revenues must be used for solid-waste purposes per the solid-waste plan and governing statutes.

Members of the public questioned whether private haulers would still deliver material to the county facility; Shaw said haulers currently pay disposal fees at their chosen landfill and that bringing a local MRF would shorten long trucking runs and likely attract a majority of haulers to deliver recyclables locally. He said a MRF would allow the county to control local recycling streams and avoid sending loads 90 miles each way. Shaw also explained the fixed-fee assessment is charged to improved parcel owners on the county tax duplicate — it is not a usage-based charge, so a homeowner with a single improved parcel would pay the same annual fee.

The commissioners closed the June 24 hearing without voting; Shaw said the resolution to revise the solid waste fixed fee will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration on July 1, 2025.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners Public Hearings - June 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lucas County sanitary engineering director Jim Shaw proposed increasing the county’s fixed solid-waste assessment from $5 to $25 per improved parcel to finance a material recovery facility (MRF), remediation and related operations. The board held a June 24 hearing and will consider a resolution July 1, 2025.","taxTitle","Lucas County, Ohio","taxId",2658,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6179236,"Lucas County sanitary engineer proposes 4% annual water and sewer rate increases for four years",95,19920,115000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5131743-92bb5015c2f8e4eb4898736659a98b3a&start=19&end=115","/articles/6179236/Lucas-County/Ohio/Lucas-County-sanitary-engineer-proposes-4-annual-water-and-sewer-rate-increases-for-four-years","Lucas County sanitary engineer Jim Shaw recommended a 4% annual increase to county water and wastewater rates for four years, saying the change would take effect Oct. 1, 2025.

At a June 24 public hearing in Springfield Township, Shaw said the recommended increase is driven by aging infrastructure, higher operations and capital costs and the possibility of new regulations. \"There'll be a 4% annual increase for the next 4 years, effective 10/01/2025,\" Shaw said. He gave the commission an itemized estimate of household impacts and said the county last requested a rate increase about 10 years ago.

The proposal to be considered as a resolution at the Board of County Commissioners' meeting on July 1, 2025, would raise monthly bills for typical customers by modest amounts, Shaw said. He presented examples tied to water usage: a residential sanitary sewer tap (trunk capacity) adjustment would move to $3 per gallon per day for sanitary sewer and $1 per gallon per day for water for new connections; typical residential tap fees were described as about $400 for water and $1,200 for sanitary sewer. Shaw also said the county’s budget for water and wastewater collection and treatment is approximately $20,000,000, with about $15,500,000 attributed to collection and treatment costs.

Shaw described how the county’s system doubled its number of connections between 1995 and 2005 and has since added roughly 200–300 connections annually, but now faces the expense of maintaining an aging network. He cited examples of recent industry challenges — from Microcystin events to PFAS concerns — that can produce unexpected capital or operating needs. Shaw outlined funding sources the county uses, including grants, low-interest loans through the Ohio Water Development Authority, and zero-interest loans from the Ohio Public Works Commission, and said grants remain a priority.

During public comment, residents asked how the proposal would affect billing methods and discounts. Tracy Lewis, a Springfield Township resident, asked whether the county would retain winter averaging for wastewater charges; Shaw replied that Lucas County would continue winter averaging and that the county’s billing is based on winter flows (December–February), excluding activities such as filling a pool. Shaw also noted the county can certify unpaid water and sewer bills as a tax lien per the Ohio Revised Code, which reduces the need for outside collection practices cited in other jurisdictions.

Commissioners asked whether revenue raised by the water and sewer funds could be used outside those enterprise funds; Shaw said the funds are enterprise funds governed by state statute and must be used for water or wastewater purposes only. He explained, \"Any funds that come through related to water have to be for used for water. Anything for wastewater or sanitary sewer have to be used for wastewater.\" The board did not take action at the hearing; the item will appear as a resolution for formal consideration on July 1, 2025.

Questions from attendees and commissioners also addressed who would pay the increased costs and available discounts. Shaw said the county maintains discounts for homeowners 65 and older, disabled persons and qualifying veterans, and noted a homestead exemption tied to low-to-moderate income limits posted on the county website.

Shaw emphasized that the county has not requested a rate increase in about a decade and that planning, preventive maintenance and grant-seeking have delayed the need to ask customers to pay more. He said the recommended increases are intended to fund preventive maintenance, capital improvements and debt service so the county can avoid larger failures and higher costs later.","Lucas County sanitary engineer Jim Shaw proposed a 4% annual increase to water and wastewater rates for four years, effective Oct. 1, 2025, citing aging infrastructure, rising costs and regulatory uncertainty. The Board held a public hearing June 24 and will consider a resolution July 1, 2025.","actionData","errors"]

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Lucas County proposes raising solid-waste fixed fee to $25 to fund local material-recovery facility

Lucas County sanitary engineer proposes 4% annual water and sewer rate increases for four years