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St. Helens council approves water and public safety fees, rejects proposed garbage-rate increase after public pushback
Summary
On June 4 the council adopted a utility rate adjustment and a $10.30 community public safety fee recommended by the budget committee but voted down a proposed garbage/recycling rate increase after public comments and council scrutiny; residents and a garbage hauler exchanged public remarks about recycling practices.
The St. Helens City Council on June 4 approved a scheduled adjustment to water, sewer and storm drainage rates and a separate community public safety fee, but it declined to approve a proposed increase to residential garbage and recycling rates.
Councilors voted to adopt the utility rate adjustments after staff said the changes were part of a 2021 rate study and budget committee recommendations tied to master plans, operating costs and annual adjustments. “You’ll have that presentation sometime this fall,” a staff member told the council about an updated rate study.
During public comment, residents urged caution about rate increases. Howard Blumenthal said…
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