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Scottsburg holds first reading on updated trash-collection ordinance; council debates dumpster fees and $10 universal charge
Summary
On first reading, the council considered Ordinance 2025-1 to repeal and replace the city's sanitation code. Discussion focused on dumpster-fee calculations, a $10 universal charge replacing sticker-bag program, opt-out rules and who may obtain city-provided cans.
The Scottsburg City Council held a first reading of Ordinance 2025-1, which would repeal and replace the city code governing trash collection and sanitation services, and debated details of dumpster fees, a proposed $10 charge that replaces the sticker-bag program, and how residents and businesses could opt out of city-provided can service.
Council member Richie Barton made the motion to move the ordinance forward on first reading; the motion was seconded and the council proceeded to questions and discussion.
Council members and staff discussed the dumpster fee schedule (noted in the ordinance packet as appearing on page 7). Council members sought clarity about pickup frequency and monthly billing: officials used $50 and $60 per-month examples for weekly dumpster pickups during the discussion, and one council member asked how the schedule applied to typical 2- or 3-cubic-yard commercial dumpsters.
Council and staff discussed a flat $10 charge that the ordinance would replace in-lieu of the existing sticker/bag system. On the record the presiding officer said, "This $10 takes the place of that. Right." A council member questioned whether American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds could be used in a way that would "increase somebody's monthly cash flow," and the transcript records concern about equitable impacts — some households would pay more under the new schedule while others would pay less.
The ordinance text, as read, requires that residents who do not want city cans may use another trash service; the transcript records clarifying comments that opting out of the city-provided can service would require using a different hauler rather than sharing a neighbor's can. City staff (identified in the discussion) and a representative from Rocky Services were asked to clarify operational details such as whether the city-provided cans would be required to receive service.
After a prolonged discussion and questions about dumpster rates, cans, and service logistics, the council voted to proceed with the ordinance on first reading. The transcript does not include a detailed, line-by-line fee table in the record; it references the ordinance packet and page numbers for fee schedules.
