Council discusses $20 monthly sanitation fee and rental fees for parks and community spaces

Walnut Grove staff reviewed proposed sanitation-service pricing and a broader schedule of facility-rental fees during a work session, including a staff preference to charge residents $20 per month for residential sanitation service.

Joe Walter said staff planned to send a standardized bid package for municipal sanitation services and that the city needs to tell residents an anticipated price. Councilmembers agreed $20 per month was the maximum they would support for residents; one councilmember said she would not vote for anything higher. Walter said staff would proceed with bids and return a formal contract recommendation to council.

Staff also proposed fees for park facilities and the community building. Proposed items included: a pavilion rental (current $100 resident / $150 nonresident; staff discussed raising to $125 / $175), concession-stand rental with a deposit, and hourly or minimum-hour conference-room rentals. Council discussed whether to allow nonprofits or churches free use; staff advised the city cannot gift services and should treat rentals consistently.

For open green-space reservations and small events, staff proposed modest fees (example: $15 resident / $25 nonresident) and suggested reserving enforcement and exceptions to administrative staff. Council discussed deposit amounts, cleaning requirements and whether the kitchen or indoor facilities would be included in pavilion rentals.

Council asked staff to produce a finalized fee schedule and a bid package for sanitation services for consideration at the next council meeting. Walter said a newsletter could inform residents of an anticipated $20 rate pending final contract negotiations.

What’s next: Staff to issue sanitation service solicitation, finalize a fee schedule for council adoption and return recommendations to the council for formal action.