Hello Everyone,

Attached to this post is a copy (see link) of a proposed ordinance that was introduced at the December 14, 2021, regular council meeting. This proposed ordinance addresses the specific need to increase the monthly rate citizens pay for solid waste collection. That proposed increase is $3 per month per account. If passed, this would go into effect on your February water bill.

The proposed ordinance also provides for automatic increases whenever the solid waste vendor goes up on the rate to Haughton.

The Town has delayed increasing the rate in hopes of being able to find a way to operate without an increase. Each year our vendor has increased their rate by 3% based on the (Consumer Price Index) while we have raised our rate by $1 over the last 10 years. That increase was in 2017. We cannot absorb the losses we have incurred any longer.

Presently, you pay $15 per month for service. Our cost to the vendor is $14.46. The difference is not enough to sustain the operation. Additionally, when customers don’t pay their water bill it reflects non-payment of their sanitation pickup as well. The Town must absorb that loss. The proposed ordinance will increase the rate to $18. You will see the minimum utility bill go from $66 to $69 per month if the ordinance passes.

In an effort to be transparent with you, the public, we will host a public hearing prior to the regular council meeting at 6:00 PM on January 11, 2022. We welcome your questions and encourage you to voice your opinion. Feel free to call and speak with us in the Town Hall to ask questions if you need more information.

Your Town Council, along with the Mayor, have given this issue a large amount of attention over the last 5 months in an attempt to solve this problem without an increase. In comparison to solid waste pickup around us, people living outside the Town are paying between $30 to $33 per month whereas we will be suggesting to go to $18. We have a very good contract that is better than most around us.