County approves assessments for high volume solid waste
Staff writer
The Marion County Commission on Friday approved an assessment schedule for business customers that accumulate large amounts of solid waste.
David Brazil, county planning, zoning administrator and public health sanitarian, told commissioners they needed to determine assessments for businesses and industries that accumulate more than six units of solid waste.
The resolution establishing the service fees was approved in June. It indicated the annual assessment for any business generating more than six units would be determined by the county commission at a later date.
Two cubic yards of trash picked up once a week constitutes one unit, Brazil explained.
Prior to discussion, commissioners reviewed a list of county businesses and industries which produce more than six units of trash
"Hillsboro, Marion and Florence all bill differently," Brazil said. "Some are a flat fee, others are by container."
Brazil said in Marion and Hillsboro the container size and number of pickup times per week can be used to calculate the total units of solid waste.
According to the list, Tabor College in Hillsboro has the highest amount due to the number of administrative buildings, dorms, and other facilities.
Commenting on the list as a whole, commissioners felt much of the solid waste was composed of cardboard.
Brazil agreed, "If we found a way to recycle, the waste would be minimal."
According to the resolution, Marion County businesses will be assessed a minimum of one unit of solid waste annually at the rate of $11 per month or $132 annually.
Businesses that generate more than one unit are classified and billed at a rate of $132 per increment. Thus a business with two units of solid waste would be assessed $264, while a business generating five units would be assessed a yearly total of $660.
Brazil and Maggard suggested continuing the $132 cost per increment system up to 10 units of trash. For users producing more than 10 units of solid waste, some type of reduced fee could be set.
"Many of the folks on the list are under 10," Maggard said. "Those under 10 could be billed in the same multiples everyone else is paying."
Brazil suggested customers with more than 10 units be given a 25 percent reduction for anything above and beyond 10.
Commissioner Howard Collett noted the cost to the county to dispose of the solid waste would be the same no matter what.
"But on the other hand, I'd hate to see industry and business penalized such an extreme amount," Collett said.
"There's no magic solution," Commissioner Leroy Wetta agreed.
Collett questioned how the "sticker shock" would affect customers.
"People will have to understand this is a whole new deal," Maggard commented..
"But sticker shock is still going to have a bearing on it," Collett added.
Ultimately, the commission voted to charge $132 per increment for customers having between six to 10 units of solid waste. Those with 11 units and more will be charged $99 per increment for a 25 percent reduction.
Residential customers in Marion County will be assessed a fee of $6.75 per month, billed at the annual rate of $81 for one unit of solid waste.
Residence means any living quarters designed for occupancy by a single family that generates solid waste. This includes each home, manufactured home, individual living quarter within an apartment building, and each independent living unit in a retirement center.
Maggard said the solid waste assessments will be included as a separate item on tax notices which will be mailed this month.
Property owners can file an appeal with the county clerk's office if they believe the assessment is in error. Any appeals are due by Dec. 1.
In a related matter, the commission approved additional assessments for Chase County residents whose trash is picked up by the City of Florence.
Commissioners set the additional assessment at $8 for residential and $13 for commercial customers. This assessment will be billed to the City of Florence.
Other items
Maggard said sales tax collection figures for the month of September were lower than a year ago for the same period. Art in the Park and the Hillsboro Craft Show brought in less than last year. Yearly sales tax collections are also lagging behind.
The commission approved a resolution which includes incentive information to the county's strategic plan. Maggard said she was contacted by a representative from the Kansas Department of Commerce who notified her the strategic plan was missing a small section which deals with incentives that will be offered to small businesses.
Commissioners approved payroll amounting to $601,011.69.
Commission Chairman Bob Hein said Willis Ensz will replace Oliver Unruh on the county's planning and zoning board.
Commissioners approved a wording change to the Peabody City Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. Cindy Harms told commissioners the original plan used the word "assessed" instead of "appraised." Representatives with the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing caught the error.
Commissioners awarded a bridge material bid to Wilborn Sales, Salina, for a total of $66,836.29. They also granted fuels bid to Co-op Grain and Supply, Hillsboro, and Cardie Oil, Inc., Tampa.
Commissioners also agreed to lay rock on 190th east of U.S. 77 which has not been returned to its former condition.
The road served as a detour for traffic during construction on K-150. Property owners Carl and Juanita Stovall met with commissioners during a previous meeting noting the wet weather had churned the road to mud and were keeping customers away from their firearms business.
"If they're (contractor) is not going to fix it up, we'll have to," said Gerald Kelsey, road and bridge superintendent. "I'd hate to see them (Stovalls) lose their business."
Commission Chairman Hein agreed, "We need to look out for our people."
Kelsey said he would be getting in touch with Don Drickey of the Kansas Department of Transportation and Maggard suggested involving the county attorney.
