Mayor Bruce Hagen, City of Superior | Explore Superior

Mayor to Present New Garbage Proposal

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Compromise Hoped for with New Approach

By Doug Dalager

Mayor Bruce Hagen, City of Superior | Explore Superior

Mayor Bruce Hagen, City of Superior

In this exclusive, Explore Superior reports that Mayor Bruce Hagen is prepared to present a new proposal to the Superior City Council this evening. Last week the council rejected his proposal to add a $9.75 per month garbage fee to all households and small businesses in the city by a vote of 6-4.

The Mayor will present a new proposed ordinance this evening at the special session called for the City Council at 6:30 pm tonight.

The new proposal will offer a $7.75 per month fee for one 96 gallon waste container, and an additional $5 for a second container. This fee structure will be locked in until January 2019, at which time the fee will go to $9.75 for the first container. The second container fee will remain at $5 then as well.

Moccasin Mike Landfill Boundaries of service - source: City of Superior | Explore Superior

Moccasin Mike Landfill Boundaries of service – source: City of Superior

Additionally, the City will lease rather than purchase two major pieces of equipment that are needed. $1M had been allocated to purchase a loader in 2016 at a cost of $200,000, and a new compactor in 2017 at a cost of $800,000. The expense of leasing will cost the City approximately 10% more over time, but will avoid large capital outlays on the short-term. The City will also purchase two new trucks in 2016 at a budgeted cost of $510,000.

Mayor Hagen stated that he believes this is the most responsible way to move forward given resistance on the City Council to the $9.75 fee plan. While continuing to maintain that his original plan would have put the City’s finances in a better position in the future, and would allow for the creation of a reserve fund to protect against the unexpected, he felt obligated to bring an alternate proposal to the council.

The City still plans to close the Moccasin Mike Landfill in 2023 once it reaches its current capacity. Independent studies have demonstrated that constructing a new cell is not economically feasible, and could well face significant resistance from environmentalists. At that time, the Mayor believes the City will continue to run its own garbage service in order to control costs and preserve city jobs. However, once the landfill is closed city garbage will be hauled to an alternative site such as the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD). The cost of that result is unknown at this time.

The new plan is similar to a proposal submitted last week by Councilor Dan Olson who proposed a $7.75 fee until January 1, 2019, but did not include the option of charging more for a second can. It does not offer a reduced rate for seniors or those with low incomes, as Councilor Garfield has proposed.

The Mayor stated that the cost of purchasing new 32 gallon containers, and retro-fitting the city trucks so that they can dump the cans was prohibitive. More importantly though, he suggested that offering a reduced fee would require designating at least one city employee to handle applications for such service. He continues to maintain that fees should be the same for all consumers. His new proposal will allow for additional cans for those who need them and are willing to pay extra for them.

Waste-ManagementAt last week’s council meeting, a representative from Waste Management (WM) offered a franchise agreement for city garbage collection. WM would pickup and dispose of all city waste. Their cost per one 96 gallon can would be $11.25 per month. They also proposed to offer a 64 gallon option for $10.40 per month, and a 32 gallon option for $9.23 per month. Senior citizens would have the option of paying only $8.01 for a 32 gallon container.

According to one source with the City, WM will attend tonight’s council session and present new rates that rolls the $5000 monthly franchise fee back into the rates they proposed to charge residents.

Current city garbage collection employees would be offered jobs by WM subject to DOT regulations, but employment was not guaranteed. This proposal would place the city in a better position in regards to the hoped for reserve fund, building it to $3.3M by 2023 rather than the $2.1M projected if the Mayor’s original $9.75 plan were adopted.

It would however come at a greater cost to city residents. Failure to enact any ordinance tonight, will place the City on dangerous ground that could force general fund reductions in police, fire, and public works spending.

For other articles about Superior’s Trash Woes, follow these links:




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