Estevan city council gave first reading to a pair of bylaws at their meeting Monday night.
The first bylaw would increase the solid waste utility rates for the city’s landfill. Mayor Roy Ludwig said the higher rates would bring Estevan in-line with the landfill rates of other small Saskatchewan cities.
The bylaw contains landfill fees increases for not only 2019, but 2020 and 2021 as well. Most fees would increase incrementally each year.
A weight-only fee would go from $10 this year to $15 in 2019, $17.50 in 2020 and $20 in 2021.
Pickup trucks that weigh less than one tonne, and single axle trailers with under 500 kilograms of waste would go from $10 this year to $12.50 next year, $15 in 2020 and $17.50 in 2021.
Payloads above 500 kilograms would have to pay landfill tipping fees.
The landfill tipping fees would go from $46 per tonne this year to $65 a tonne next year, $75 in 2020 and $85 in 2021.
The fee for dead livestock and other animals would jump from $35 to $80 next year, $85 in 2020 and $90 in 2021. Small animals, domestic pets and wild game currently don’t have a charge, but they would start at to $60 in 2019, $65 in 2021 and $70 in 2021.
White metal goods, such as stoves and dishwashers, would increase $2.50 per year from $10 this year to $17.50 in 2021; mattresses and box spring would stay at $10 in 2019, but then inch their way up to $12.50 in 2020 and 2021; and refrigerators, freezers and air conditioning units would go from $30 to $32.50 in 2019 and 2020, and $35 in 2021.
Ludwig said it’s important for the city to have incremental increases moving forward.
Councillor Travis Frank said it was good the city did some research to ensure Estevan was in-line with what other cities have for fees.
“I’d also like to point out that our landfill is not … making us tonnes and tonnes of money anyways, so it’s not like this is an opportunity for us to make money, it’s an opportunity to make sure that our landfill is covering its costs,” said Frank.
City manager Jeff Ward said that what isn’t funded by the landfill rates will be covered by taxpayer dollars. Landfills also continue to face increasing regulation and environmental standards.
“It seems to be a very hot topic that’s coming down from the province,” said Ward.
The city has had to put in extra piezometers, ground work and excavation.
“We have to test the ground water flow for any contaminants, so it’s getting more and more onerous to run a landfill and as a result, it’s getting more and more costly,” said Ludwig.
Council is looking at one or two new cells at the landfill, and those would cost $200,000-$300,000 each.
The city also gave first reading for the fees and services bylaw, which sets the rates residents will pay for a variety of services provided by the city.
(Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more information on the fees and services bylaw).
Both bylaws will need second and third reading before being approved.
Also during the meeting, council approved the meeting schedule for 2019. The first meeting will be Jan. 14, and it will be the only meeting for that month. There will also only be one meeting in February, March, April and July. There will be two meetings in the other seven months.
Also approved was the city’s membership with the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association. The city will pay $544.10 for each of the seven voting members, for a total of $3,808.70. It will also pay a $0.59 per capita fee, which amounts to $6,774.97.
The city’s total membership fee will be $10.583.67.
