City garbage rates to increase in December

By MICHELLE MCLEAN
Garbage rates in Hillsboro will increase soon to match the city’s new contract with Waste Management for trash collection and disposal.
Hillsboro city commissioners intend to amend Ordinance 472 and gave first reading to the change at Monday’s regular meeting.
A second reading of the amended rates is required for final approval, which is expected at the October 15 meeting.
Residential base garbage rates will increase $1.50 per month from $12.50 to $14. Residential customers are provided 95-gallon toters with weekly pickup service. Commercial rates will increase $1.50 per month for each cubic yard billed.
The commission had accepted the bid from WM’s Grand Forks office at a special budget meeting September 26. Waste Management was deemed the “lowest responsible bidder.”
Other bidders included Valley Disposal of Fargo and Dakota Sanitation of Bismarck. WM’s base bid for collection and disposal was $10,850 per month. The others bid $11,988 and $11,723.
WM’s current monthly contract fee is $9,094 plus a fuel surcharge. The surcharge amounted to about $100 on the last monthly bill.
In addition, WM provides roll-off services that cost about $1,500 a month for disposal of metal, garbage and recycled items from the city refuse site and recycling dumpsters.
The new contract with WM will go into effect December 1. The rate increase will likely be included on utility payments due December 10.
In a related matter, the commissioners gave final approval Monday to the city’s $3.2 million 2008 budget.
By comparison, the 2007 budget called for $2.5 million in expenditures. The overall budget increase can be traced to two major items — debt retirement for recent street and water projects and additional expenses in the electric department.
The city will levy 67.69 mills, generating about $143,500, primarily for the general fund. Other amounts included in the property tax levy are dedicated to the airport, recreation district, cemetery, the city’s share of special assessments and Social Security for city employees. The levy is one mill more than last year and will generate about $7,000 more due to the slightly higher levy and an increasing mill value.
As approved, the general fund budget plans for $364,080 in expenses and $364,890 in revenues (including $103,000 in transfers from the electric department, an enterprise fund which can be tapped, and $22,000 from sales tax revenues for the swimming pool). However, the general fund is expected to remain in the red for a fourth straight year, ending with a $20,000 deficit.
In other business, commissioners heard no protests regarding the 2006 water project special assessments. The assessments were finalized with each “user unit” assessed $1,706.71, payable over 15 years. Residents have the option of paying off the special assessment by October 16 without paying any interest. The assessment will be included in the 2007 tax mailed out by Traill County in December. Property owners were notified by letter about the special assessment in August.
In another matter, commissioners reviewed a demolition notice from Hillsboro Township for the old township school on the east edge of town. The permit was filed as a courtesy since the township storage shed sits just outside city limits. However, the building falls within the city’s one-half mile jurisdiction for planning and zoning regulations.