McBee council votes to raise garbage-collection rates to cover contractor increases

The Town of McBee council voted Nov. 2 to increase local garbage-collection rates after staff said the town was being billed by its contractor, Waste Connections, at higher rates than the town charged customers.

Clerk Tisha Jones told the council that, if current prices stay in place, the town would lose “about $650 a month.” Jones summarized staff recommendations: raise in-town roll-cart service from $14 to $16 and out-of-town roll carts to $19; increase commercial dumpster charges, including bringing 4-yard commercial accounts from $80 to $100 and 8-yard containers to $135 to align better with contractor billing.

Mayor John Campolong said the council should add a stipulation to pass through any additional overage charges the town incurs when customers’ dumpsters are overfilled and the contractor bills extra. Council Member Glenn Odom and others discussed whether outside customers (those who receive town water service but live beyond town limits) should be charged higher rates; Odom proposed modest increases to cover fuel and service costs.

Council Member Beulah Bolton, participating by phone, asked that the town provide customers a clear explanation for the increase; Jones said the town would draft an explanatory notice when the ordinance language is prepared. Mayor Campolong moved to increase rates and Glenn Odom seconded; the motion passed (transcript records the vote as “All in favor”).

Next steps: staff will prepare ordinance language and a customer notice for the December meeting and upcoming billing cycles.