CITY COUNCIL New ordinance calls for lower roll-off trash rates

Some on council believed the legislation limits Warren's competitive ability.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Two weeks after passing legislation setting rates for roll-off trash containers, city council will consider new legislation regarding costs for the bins.
The panel passed legislation last month setting rates for the city to charge residents for use of its roll-off trash containers with the provision that the administration would return to the next council meeting with legislation, allowing Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin to set the rates rather than having them spelled out in the ordinance.
The initial ordinance called for a charge of $100 for a 10-cubic-yard container and $130 for a 15-cubic-yard container per week for collection of construction and demolition debris.
The rates would increase for municipal solid waste to $200 and $250 per week for a 10-cubic-yard and 15-cubic-yard container, respectively.
The latest ordinance, which council members will consider at their regular meeting Wednesday, calls for a $7 charge for a 10-cubic-yard container and a $10.50 charge for a 15-cubic-yard container with additional charges for collection of construction and demolition debris and municipal solid waste to be determined by the safety-service director.
Renee Cicero, environmental services manager, said the $7 and $10.50 charges are the amounts the city must pay by ordinance to the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste District per trash bin disposed.
Expressing concerns
Councilman Gary Fonce, D-at large, was concerned about the legislation passed last month, contending that establishing the rates in an ordinance restricts the city's ability to be competitive.
"You're basically cutting your own throat," he said.
Setting the prices in legislation would allow other companies to set lower rates, the councilman believes.
He hadn't reviewed the legislation on Wednesday's meeting agenda and declined to comment.
The environmental services department has three 10-cubic-yard containers and two 15-cubic-yard containers purchased late last year when it retrofitted its sanitation trucks. At that time, the city also bought a used truck equipped to pick up the large roll-off trash bins.
The bins are only available to city customers, as they'll be charged on their utility bills.