Sanitation customers who have dumpsters in Landrum may see an increase in rates next July.
City of Landrum officials say residents and commercial pick-up sanitation customers are subsidizing costs for commercial customers with dumpsters.
Landrum City Council met Dec. 14 and discussed whether or not to take bids for sanitation when its contract with GDS is up in June 2011.
Commercial customers with dumpsters pay the city $48.15 per month, while it cost the city more $50 per month per dumpster.
“I look at garbage just like power and water,” said councilman Billy Inman. “It’s a user fee and they are the users.”
Councilwoman Jan Horton agreed and said the city should charge customers what it cost the city.
“I don’t think we should make money on it,” said Horton. “If we’re charging under on commercial, then we should go up on commercial.”
Residential customers pay $8 per month for city garbage service and Wolochowicz says the contract is slightly under that for the city. Commercial customers with two roll-out carts pay $27.85 per month and the city’s contract is slightly less than that.
Wolochowicz said the city could solicit bids next year when the contract is up, but recommended extending the contract with GDS, saying he feels like they are the least expensive provider.
The city has had complaints over the years about garbage service, particularly with recycling service and garbage containers not being replaced, but council agreed last week that they feel those issues have been taken care of.
Councilman Randy Wohnig said cheap is great, “but I just want to make sure we’ve got good service.”
Council agreed for Wolochiwcz to get a price from GDS on what the 2011 contract would be. The board will decide at a later date whether or not to go out to bid next year.