Black Diamond town council is considering raising its rates for collecting solid wastes and recycling.
“We have a number of concerns about just keeping up with the operating costs,” said Sharlene Brown, CEO of Black Diamond told council at its Dec. 4 meeting. “We are having a shortfall in both solid waste and recycling rates.
“Administration is recommending a little bit of a hike from $20.44 per billing period to $25.83 (for solid waste).”
It was also recommended an increase from $9 to $12 per billing period (every two months) for recycling.
The rates have not changed since 2011.
Council gave first reading on Dec. 4, it will come back for possible second and final reading at its Dec. 18 meeting..
Councillor Brian Marconi said he was concerned if the hike was enough, that another request may be forthcoming in the near future.
Brown said the $25.83 for solid waste is enough to match the maximize cost using 2018 figures.
“That would also include the cost to capital,” Brown said. “But if the truck needs a lot more maintenance, we might have some issues with that.”
She said administration wanted to keep costs at a conservative level in light of the potential of a more regional system coming into place.
“The rates may be higher going forward if there is a more regional system or if there is a different system that is going to be operating,” Brown said. “We don’t know what it is going to look like. I would rather be on the safe side than increase it too much.”
Black Diamond presently has a partnership with Turner Valley for such things as shared equipment. There are considerations to expand more players in the future.
In a report to council, Brown stated for the past five years the average cost per year to the Town for solid waste collection has been $122,900 annually. The costs has been subsidized by between $2,000 and $3,000 a year from reserves. The exception was in 2018, when maintenance on the service truck were made.
Her report said in comparison, the Town of Turner Valley charges $28 for residential solid waste.
Councillor Jackie Stickel was a taken aback to see the hikes for solid waste and recycling.
”A 25-per-cent and 28-per-cent increase I went ‘What?’, but to go back and divided by the eight years it’s three per cent, which is not so bad,” Stickel said. “But going forward in the future, we should do it periodically. So it doesn’t look so big a jump at one point in time.”
If the proposal is passed on Dec. 18, the rate increases will take effect in January.
