Answering your Solid Waste questions

The Lewis County Herald reached out on social media and, asking citizens to send us their questions regarding the new Solid Waste fees.

Below are the questions that were sent to us and answered to the best of my ability with the information given and by meeting with Mayor Jonah Keltner and Solid Waste Director Bradley Loveless.

Why were the solid waste fees raised?

The issue of Solid Waste was first addressed in County Commission meetings following the closure of Decatur County's landfill, to which Lewis County hauled its solid waste.

Due to its closure, the Lewis County government had to find another landfill to haul the waste to, but it proved to be much more expensive. The nearest and most cost effective landfill was Cedar Ridge in Lewisburg and it came with a $35 per ton tipping fee plus the $21.19 hauling fee.

In the Fiscal Year 2018-2019, the county had a total of 6,559.51 tons of garbage hauled to the Decatur landfill, which made this year's projected cost an estimated $368,606.

Mayor Keltner also warned the Commission of an "annual budget shortfall" of $111,511.67 in the Solid Waste Budget, which would put the account in a negative balance.

"This is the fifth month in a row that the County Commission has been presented with a proposed funding source to cover the upcoming $111,500 annual budget shortfall in the Solid Waste account," a written report in May of this year from the mayor read. "And... it looks like [the fund] will have a NEGATIVE fund balance, and the Solid Waste Department won't be able to pay its bills or even make payroll," the report continued.

Why do we need both Commercial and Residential solid waste fees, with an added scale fee?

When the problem of the Solid Waste Budget first began, it was not long before it was pointed out that commercial and residential fees would be an easy solution; although it would prove to be the most controversial.

Previously businesses were charged $15 per month, or $45 per quarter, or $180 per year with no late fees. The residential fee was $90 with a $10 late fee, paired with a $70 maximum late fee per year.

Together, the residential and commercial fee alone made up for $497,327.52 of last year's revenue. With the increased fees, the commercial solid waste fee alone isprojected to generate $192,800 in revenue, provided that the list of businesses stays the same.

But the cost to run the Lewis County Solid Waste Department was estimated at over $700,000.

"Without a doubt," said Solid Waste Director Loveless, "the majority of the Solid Waste Budget goes toward our household garbage and hauling it out of town."

Discussions about scales began in May and was finally decided on in recent months to help make up for the impending deficit.

The scale fees are separate from the commercial and residential fees because the scales weigh material that will be kept in Lewis County's Class 3 landfill, which can house materials used for construction, furniture, etc.

"Raising fees is something no mayor wants to do," said Mayor Keltner in an interview, "In this case, there was really no option. We had to do something."

Why charge citizens more when you could go after those who haven't paid their solid waste fees

In short, delinquent fees were some of the first to be recognized as a problem when it was revealed in March that $113,000 of the Solid Waste Budget belonged to those who refused to pay.

The Board voted to approve a resolution that would notify all governmental, commercial and private third party refuse haulers that the Lewis County Solid Waste Department will not be accepting garbage, brush or any other refuse from persons or businesses who are not current with their solid waste fees. The suggestion was that the private waste haulers and even city garbage trucks could be turned away from the gates of the landfill if they collected trash from any resident who was delinquent in their fees.

County Attorney Jack Heath advised against the resolution and Mayor Keltner did not sign it, but the mayor's signature is not needed for a resolution to pass. As of November 2, 2020, that amount has been lowered to $44,055.16.

Were other solutions considered?

Several alternative solutions came before the Commission including purchasing an incinerator, making the landfill a Class 1 (so it could take in household garbage), including Solid Waste fees in property taxes, and even expanding it closer to the Buffalo River by means of land purchased under another administration.

All other solutions that came before the commission were eventually voted down due to lack of funding or if the idea seemed implausible.

What about recycling? What can I recycle and how should it be packaged?

"Pennies turn into dollars," said Loveless, "whether you're spending money or saving it."

Recycling has proven to be one of the most important components of saving money when it comes to household garbage.

Just within the past week, Director Loveless sold 44,000 pounds of cardboard for about $1,500.

When asked if there was an idea for bins to hold other recyclables, Loveless responded, "If businesses will put their plastics in bags in those cardboard bins, we'll pick those up too. It doesn't matter to me."

He even hinted that there might be a container placed near the courthouse and library soon that could serve as a central drop-off for recyclables in the near future.

What is recyclable: Plastic bottles and containers, food and beverage cans, paper (newspaper, magazines, copying paper, etc.), cardboard and paperboard.

Will there be any reduction in fees for those who put recycling bins outside their businesses?

[Answered by Mayor Keltner]: The resolution Commissioners passed says "any business that makes a significant effort to recycle and reduce their waste shall be eligible for reduced solid waste fees...The business must come before the Mayor and Solid Waste Committee for approval." If a business makes a SIGNIFICANT EFFORT that produces significant results, then they can petition myself and the Solid Waste Committee to have their fee reduced somewhat. But they would need to provide proof.

Does the county and city pay for the garbage brought in?

The short answer is no because it is considered that they are simply delivering what their customers are paying for through their fees.

Is charging small at-home businesses who would have no solid waste outside of their household garbage considered "double dipping"?

[Answered by Mayor Keltner]: I was not in favor of charging the small, at-home businesses the same as other brick & mortar businesses on Level 1, which is $20/month or $60/quarter. However, I could understand charging them something if they have a business license because more than likely they do produce some garbage as a result of their business...even if it's a sack, hamburger wrapper, cup, etc. from eating lunch "on the job" at their at-home business. But I would have made that minimal, like $5 to $10/month. I don't consider it double dipping because one is a Residential fee to the resident and one is a Commercial fee to the business.

Do businesses who hired their own private garbage disposal company pay a quarterly fee?

[Answered by Mayor Keltner]: No. Right now we have 2 commercial businesses that I know of who hire a private company to pick up their trash and haul it out of the county. Because that is documented and verified that their trash doesn't come to our Transfer Station or Pit, they are not charged a fee. Those two businesses are Wal-Mart and Fall Hollow Campground.

Are there any conversations being had behind the scenes about changing any policy?

[Answered by Mayor Keltner]: The plan is to look at the Solid Waste Fund balance in the Spring, and see how things are going financially at the landfill. A few minor things may be tweaked at that time. The overall goal I believe, is not to cut the fees, but to get sound enough financially so the County won't have to increase them anymore in the near future.

What is your advice to those who have legitimate concerns about their solid waste?

[Answered by Mayor Keltner]: Come speak to me, our Solid Waste Director Bradley Loveless, or the Solid Waste Committee, so we can explain things. No one liked having to increase fees, especially me, but with the closing of the Decatur County Landfill, and the County's tipping fee nearly doubling when we started having to dispose of our garbage in Marshall County, unfortunately there was no choice but to pass that fee increase along to our customers.