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Council discusses proposed septic dumping fee increase; votes to wait two weeks for public notice
Summary
Utilities staff proposed raising septic dumping tipping fees from $4 to $6 per 1,000 gallons and raising sludge disposal fees from $30 to $35; councilors asked for public notice and delayed a final vote for two weeks, with a proposed April 1 implementation if approved.
Utilities staff presented a proposal to raise septic dumping tipping fees to better align charges with treatment costs, recommending an increase from $4 to $6 per 1,000 gallons and a sludge-disposal increase from $30 to $35.
Staff described the math behind the proposal, saying treatment costs amount to approximately $2.3 million annually for the volumes handled and that the town now recovers about $75,000–$100,000 per year from dumping fees. Using that calculation, a 2,500-gallon load would rise from $10 to $15 and a 5,000-gallon load would increase proportionally.
Councilors raised concerns about downstream impacts and public notice. Several members said they supported the numbers in principle but asked for transparency and time for affected residents and trucking firms to prepare. One council member reported receiving emails from township residents the day of the meeting about the proposal.
Councilors agreed to delay a final vote for two weeks to allow the increase to be published and reviewed; staff suggested an April 1 implementation date if the council approves the rate increase at the next meeting.
The issue will return to the council with formal wording for a vote and public notice of the proposed rate change.
