Solid waste move sparks heated commission debate

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN JULIE ANDERSON
A recommendation to change the way solid waste disposal fees would be collected spurred a heated discussion at the Marion County Commission meeting June 30.



Under fire was a resolution crafted by Commissioner Jack Bruner that would have given authority to assess solid-waste fees to the county rather than the cities, and would have those fees billed through the property tax roles.



On hand to address the issue were 22 citizens, including the mayors of several cities in the county.



Some of the mayors felt the way fees were currently assessed was working well and wanted to wait a year so city and county officials could discuss the issue.



In fact, it was the timing of the proposed resolution that seemed to bother the mayors as much as its content.



For it to take effect next year, the resolution would have had to be signed before July 1. Notice that the resolution would be discussed, however, was not public knowledge until a revised agenda was circulated the day before the scheduled meeting.



Hillsboro Mayor Delores Dalke said this was “probably the worst communication” she has ever seen between the county and cities.



“We had to find out (about the resolution) in a sneaky way,” she said.



Even the other two commissioners said they hadn’t had much time to study the resolution. Commission Chair Linda Peterson said she didn’t see it until 11 p.m. the previous day. She agreed the cities and county needed time to discuss the issue.



Bruner argued that a delay wasn’t necessary because changes could be made to the resolution after it had been approved.



“Nothing stops us from making a change in the contract after the fact if we pass it now, so we can still discuss it,” he said. “I agree we should talk about it. Up to this point we haven’t discussed anything in a very controlled way.”



Bruner made a motion to pass the resolution, but it died for lack of a second.



At question was a contract with K.C. Development, which operates the transfer station for county trash.



Earlier in the meeting, Rex Savage, representing K.C. Development, presented commissioners with results of a survey he had taken of Kansas counties from late April to early June. The survey indicated how each county disposed of its trash, the fees charged, and how those fees were collected.



Collection methods included charging fees at the gate, adding it to utility charges, assessing special solid waste fees, or taking the money from sales tax revenue.



Savage had recommended the county assume responsibility for charging fees through property taxes.



“We would like to see this done,” Savage said. “If it is not done I think the county will have a big problem.”



Dalke was concerned if property taxes go up, property owners who own rentals would be hurt because they would not be able to pass on the increase to renters.



She said the proposed method might change the charge to retirement homes and apartments receiving commercial rates as well.



Savage was unable to respond because he did not have the information in front of him, but he said they did not intend any changes.



“If nothing changes why are we here in a big rush the last day?” Dalke asked. “If it’s no different why can’t we do this in a timely matter so we can all walk out of here happy?”



David Oursler, Peabody, also voiced concerns because Peabody has its own trash service which it pays for through fees. He assumed Peabody residents would have to pay double until their three-year contract ran out with the current company.



“You have the means to stop this,” he told the commissioners.



Peterson said the matter needed further discussion.



“Since the cities are the ones doing the collection, if we intend to do this right, we need to sit down with the mayors and see how it all works,” Peterson said. “I would like to take more time with this. There is a lot of miscommunication out there.”



Bruner said he saw no reason to put off the issue.



“We’re trying to do everything we can to be sure it is done properly and everyone that should be paying, is,” he said.



Also present at the meeting was Bob Myers, an attorney representing some of the cities.



Myers questioned whether the resolution could be changed once it was passed because of its wording.



He also said the deadline should not have been a surprise because they were using the same statute as the one used for the recycling proposal last year.



The commission also heard reasons for approving the resolution.



“The county commission has got to take over and lead,” said Theo Bond, owner of K.C. Development. “We’ve got to do what’s right. We have got to take care of it.”



“I think the prudent thing is to pass this and use tax roles,” Bruner said.



But after Bruner’s motion died, Peterson said, “From here we will bring all parties together and sit down at the table and discuss this.”



She said they would try to arrange a meeting to discuss the issue at the end of July or first of August.



In other business, commissioners:



— heard that the voters in Tampa approved a bond election to provide funding for resurfacing city streets. The vote was 36-4.



— approved sending the second letter to firework permit holders.



— approved the cooperation agreement between the city and county for first-time homeowners.



— were asked to study a proposal to use the former Van’s department store building as a computer center for the city, county and Chamber of Commerce. The county clerk will check with the city to see if they are going to initiate anything.



— were told Andre Ebaben was hired for the custodial position at the courthouse. He will begin July 17.



— heard from Jeannine Bateman, county treasurer, that as of June 22, 93.58 percent of property taxes had been collected.



— gave their permission for the treasurer’s office to take part in a pilot program that would collect taxes over the Internet.



— accepted a fuel bid from Cardie Oil for $6,924.64.

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