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Central Pacolet staff reviews options to change sanitation fees and expand service
Summary
Town staff reviewed the current $45 annual sanitation fee and a $70 one-time charge for additional carts, proposing options to roll extra-cart costs into the annual fee, to add a business fee, and to offer service to properties outside town limits at a higher rate; staff asked council to consider the ideas and said no vote was requested tonight.
Town staff reviewed Central Pacolet's sanitation program and posed several policy questions for the council to consider: whether the town should charge $45 per cart or keep the model of one $45 fee per residence; whether to allow and charge businesses for a service the town currently provides although the ordinance does not explicitly allow it; and whether to offer sanitation service to properties just outside the town limits at a higher rate.
The presenter described the current charges in the packet as a $45 annual fee for resident service and said an additional cart is currently assessed a one-time $70 fee. The staff member suggested one option would be to include the additional-cart fee in the annual charge so residents who cannot afford the $70 upfront would instead pay $45 a year and thereafter pay $45 annually for that cart.
Staff also noted the town has, in practice, provided trash service to some commercial businesses even though the ordinance does not explicitly permit it and asked whether the council wishes to add a fee for businesses and to allow that service to expand. The presenter asked whether the fee for businesses should match the $45 resident rate or be set differently.
On the question of serving properties just outside town limits, staff said some nearby jurisdictions set a higher rate for out-of-town customers and suggested Central Pacolet could do the same, which could generate incremental revenue where crews are already in the area.
The presenter compared the town's current $45-per-year fee to a private hauler's advertised rate of $65 per three months (about $21.67 per month) and noted the $45 annual fee works out to roughly $3.75 per month; staff described updating the sanitation ordinance chapter (which has not been revised for new carts and guidelines) and offered to provide suggested ordinance language for council consideration.
The presenter said they were not seeking a vote at this meeting and asked council members to think about the options and return this item for a future discussion or formal action.
