Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sanitation Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Midwest City raises special-pickup fees to better match costs
Summary
City staff told the council the actual cost to perform a special bulk pickup is about $152.93; the council approved ordinance language raising resident special-pickup rates from $55 to $75 for four cubic yards and charging $20 per additional cubic yard, with temporary/nonresident pickups set at $150.
Midwest City council members approved changes to the municipal code revising fees for special bulk pickups after staff said the city’s rates were well below actual costs.
Carrie Evenson, a Public Works staff member, told the council the city recalculated the full hourly cost for a grapple pickup — including transport, landfill tipping fees, personnel and equipment recapitalization — at $152.93. Evenson said the sanitation service operates as an enterprise fund, meaning fee revenue is dedicated to providing and maintaining that service.
The updated ordinance raises the resident special-pickup base rate to $75 for up to four cubic yards and adds $20 per additional cubic yard; temporary or nonresident special pickups will be charged $150. Evenson said the city did not want to pass the full calculated cost onto residents at once and proposed an intermediate increase now to recoup some costs while addressing equipment needs.
A council member noted that quarterly bulk pickups (four per year) for residents will continue to be provided at no additional charge and that the ordinance change applies to requests that exceed that allotment. A motion to adopt the ordinance passed by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will provide follow-up data on average monthly usage and any additional cost breakdowns if requested by council members.
