The City of Llano council on Monday tabled a proposal to change the number of days the citizen collection station would be open and to adjust dump rates, following extensive public comment urging the council to preserve access and lower fees for residents undergoing remodeling or demolition projects.
Speakers described practical problems created by reducing open days: one resident said demolition projects quickly fill the dump trailer and that multi-day lag between openings prevented contractors and homeowners from completing work efficiently. Commenters also criticized the removal of the voucher system (which had allowed occasional free drops) and said the collection station has been losing money in recent years. One frequent user asked the city to consider subsidizing nonresident commercial use or to set differential rates so residents pay less than out-of-town users.
Councilmember moved to table the item pending the mayor’s anticipated contract actions, and the motion passed after a second; staff will return with more data on usage, revenue, and potential operational options. In the meeting, a staff member referenced a six-month study that showed more than 3,000 users during a four-day-per-week span and noted that the city had tracked user origin and in-town spending for that period.
Outcome and next steps: the item was tabled. Staff was directed to analyze collection-station usage, financials, and comparative rates in neighboring jurisdictions and to return with recommendations for preserving access for residents while addressing the station’s fiscal sustainability.