Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste Assessments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Putnam County raises solid-waste assessment, renames 'convenience centers' and expands annual debris allowances
Summary
The Putnam County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt a resolution updating the county's solid-waste special assessment tipping fees, change internal terminology from "convenience centers" to "collection centers," and increase annual allowances for construction and yard-debris delivered to the central landfill.
The Putnam County Board of County Commissioners on July 22 adopted a resolution raising the county's annual special assessment fees for solid-waste collection and formally directed staff to replace the term "convenience center" with "collection center" in county documents.
The change in the assessment for households outside Palatka and Crescent City increases the fee from $2.62 to $3.12 (presented to the board as roughly a $4 increase per month), a jump county staff said primarily reflects the contract collection cost with Waste Pro. Miss Julianne, the county presenter, told commissioners the negotiated Waste Pro collection rate driving the increase is about $15.89 per household per month for trash and yard waste and that surrounding counties are paying higher rates: Clay County $19.10, Volusia $21.83 and Flagler $32.50 to $35.00.
Commissioners also voted to change long-standing disposal allotments at the central landfill: construction and demolition debris per household per year will increase from 2,000 pounds to 3,000 pounds and yard waste from 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. Commissioner Harvey, who made the motion, said most residents do not use their full allotment but called the change "something we could give back to our citizens." Commissioner Pellicer seconded the motion. The board recorded no public speakers on the item and the motion carried unanimously.
Why it matters: The assessment adjustment funds contracted curbside services the county does not directly operate. At the same meeting Commissioner Harvey emphasized the county is ending curbside recycling because participation is low (about 18% to 20%) and market demand for recyclables has fallen; recycling will remain available at county locations rather than via curbside pickup.
Other key points: - The Palatka and Crescent City household assessment was shown in the staff presentation to be decreasing for those households that do not receive Waste Pro curbside collection because they do not receive that service. - Commissioner Harvey and Commissioner Newbold asked staff to use the term "collection center" throughout the documents to better reflect the function and experience of those county sites. - Commissioner Harvey requested county staff explore whether yard-waste collection frequencies could be improved in future contracts.
Formal action: Commissioner Harvey moved adoption of the resolution setting the special assessment tipping fees, renaming convenience centers to collection centers, increasing construction and demolition debris allowances from 2,000 to 3,000 pounds per year, and increasing yard-waste allowances from 4,000 to 5,000 pounds per year. Commissioner Pellicer seconded. No public comments were offered; the board approved the motion unanimously.
What happens next: The updated assessments and the terminology change will be incorporated into county materials and the landfill/collection-center operating rules. County staff said they will continue answering constituent questions and can produce a more detailed breakdown on request.
