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Fort Mill council approves first reading of downtown sanitation fee allowing town-managed dumpster service
Summary
Council approved first reading of an ordinance to establish downtown sanitation fees that permit the town to operate dumpster enclosures (garbage and recycling), offered as an opt-in service for downtown businesses; the ordinance also includes a FEMA review fee to cover consultant costs for floodplain amendments.
At its meeting, Fort Mill council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would let the town provide and bill for downtown dumpster enclosure services and add a fee to cover FEMA review costs tied to floodplain amendments.
Chris Pettit (S7) told council the ordinance establishes two separate fees: a FEMA review fee for technical floodplain work that the town contracts out, and a fee for town‑managed dumpster enclosures downtown. Pettit said each dumpster enclosure has two 8‑cubic‑yard bins — one for garbage and one for recycling — and that the town currently maintains two enclosure locations behind Main Street businesses.
Pettit said the dumpster service would be opt‑in: businesses that want to use the town's enclosures would sign up and pay the fee rather than the town charging every downtown business automatically. He said food and drink establishments generate more waste and that fee tiers reflect that differential. Pettit also said the town had discussed the plan with existing downtown users and expects current users to continue under the new arrangement.
Council members asked staff whether the ordinance needs a clearer definition of what counts as "downtown" and who would receive bills; Pettit said geographic limits will be applied sensibly and that billing will reflect an opt‑in approach. A council member also asked whether recycling would be offered; Pettit confirmed the service covers garbage and recycling.
A motion to approve the ordinance for first reading was made and carried by voice vote with no opposition. Council noted the ordinance requires two readings before final adoption; staff said further conversations and outreach will continue between first and second reading.
If adopted, the change would shift management of specific downtown waste collection from individual businesses to a town‑run, opt‑in service intended to reduce roll‑out carts and improve downtown beautification and logistics.
