Hudson Garbage requested a rate increase at the June 18 council work session, citing rising disposal fees, fuel and labor costs and local wage pressures.

Connolly Tomlinson, site manager for Hudson Garbage Service, told the council Hudson has implemented a 4.5% pay increase for drivers to address retention and that Columbia County's disposal fee increase (effective July 1) and other costs are driving the request. "This year alone, we've had 3 employees leave us," Tomlinson said, and he provided comparative rate sheets showing Hudson's local pricing.

Councilors asked how Hudson's contract and service compared with other providers and whether annual increases are normal. Tomlinson said annual adjustments are common and noted that some vendors use a CPI escalation clause in contracts; Hudson's current franchise arrangement allows the company to request council approval for rate changes. On whether the city could refuse the increase, Tomlinson said Hudson would return to the drawing board and work with the city but did not identify a statutory consequence.

Council members also raised service differences between neighboring cities and asked if additional services (for example curbside glass or other recycling changes under Oregon's Recycling Modernization Act) could offset rates. Tomlinson said the DEQ-led Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) may add producer-funded programs in coming years that could reduce rate pressure for certain recyclables, but that some local transfer-station logistics (end-market distance) could limit RMA benefits for St. Helens.

No formal rate action was taken. Councilors requested additional information about comparative service levels, franchise obligations and potential non-rate offsets before deciding whether to approve a rate increase.