City Council approves rate increase for garbage fees

Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 12:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

Monday evening members of the Plymouth City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the garbage fee ordinance that will increase fees for the next billing cycle.

City Attorney Jeff Houin told the city council that the contract with Republic Services was extended for one year because the city didn’t have enough time to seek proposals from other providers and possibly negotiate a new contract. He told them they will seek proposals in the spring so they can properly compare rates and find the best services and rates for the city users.

The city attorney noted that the city has not passed on the annual increases in the current contract over the last several years. Instead, the city has absorbed those increases. With this contract extension, garbage fees are anticipated to increase, and the city will pass on the increase to consumers. Houin said the increase in fees is an effort to offset the additional costs.

Residential customers and apartment units will increase from $16,57 to $19.88 and commercial fees will increase from $36.80 to $39.80. The increase is $3.31 monthly for all customers.