Hamilton City Council members convened for a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 20 for discussion of the following subjects: Waste Connections trash rate increase and review of alternative options, the water tower rehabilitation and modular/manufactured homes in relation to the ordinance drafting process.
Discussion on Tuesday night began with the Waste Connections contract, the current provider of refuse services. The City of Hamilton has received trash services through this provider for approximately 15 years. A representative with Waste Connections was present last Tuesday evening to participate in discussion.
The three-year contract currently in place was slated to conclude at the end of August. Just prior to their August regular meeting, Hamilton officials were made aware that the city would be seeing an approximate 60% increase on the residential poly carts, which in turn, would result in a 60-70% increase for Hamilton residents. Concerns were conveyed by members of the council over the large jump in price. Another concern noted by Mayor Dave Harris was the short notice provided by Waste Connections. Harris explained that the city trash ordinance has to be updated with the new rates and published prior to going into effect. As a result, the city will have to pay the increase solely on their end and experience a loss for the service until the rate change has completed publication. The representative present offered an extension; the city will remain at their current rate until Oct. 1. Rates on the city’s end would be going from $18.03 to $30 for residential poly carts under the new agreement.
The representative noted that the contract sunsetting this fall was signed in 2021 and inflation has been a growing factor since. He noted that the current poly cart rate in the City of Wichita, where the company is based out of, is $22 a month. The representative also shared that Waste Connections is losing money at the current cost.
During discussion, city officials also expressed concerns regarding the cost of roll-off dumpsters, as the city holds clean-up days twice a year. It was later noted that cost for provision for these clean-up days wouldn’t be increasing. It was also explained that if the city were to, by and large, discontinue individual poly carts and elect for shared large dumpsters, the rate for these would see an increase because Waste Connections would have to purchase more dumpsters. As he left the meeting, the Waste Connections representative expressed appreciation to the City of Hamilton for their business over the last 15 years.
At this time, rates received from other companies were weighed against those for Waste Connections. With County-Wide Refuse, the city would pay $23.50 per poly cart on the city’s end. It was, however, noted that rates for dumpsters/roll-offs were higher than Waste Connections.
City Clerk Daphne Rayburn shared that she had contacted the Clerk in Madison who shared that they use Republic, which was referenced as the company utilized by Hamilton prior to switching to Waste Connections. It was shared that this transition had been made due to cost. Cost for dumpsters through Republic was noted as being higher than Waste Connections. No official quote was received from Republic prior to the special meeting. They opted to wait until the council met and relayed to the Hamilton City Clerk, that if the city were still interested following their meeting, numbers would be compiled and sent.
After options and prices were weighed, council members approved maintaining Waste Connections for trash services. This passed in a 3-2 vote, Councilmen Charlie Schlotterbeck and Joe Beeman voting in favor and Harris serving as tie breaker in the absence of Councilman Christopher Ray. Rates will be considered at a later meeting.
Superintendent Randy Knight reported that Viking Industrial Painting will do a four-year term for payments in regards to replacement of the water tower standpipe. The following payment schedule was proposed: 2024, first payment for the amount of $20,000 and 2025-2027 annual payments amounting to $18,550 each year. Interest would not increase with the fouryear term and this could be paid off early. A grant application is in the works. Harris noted having spoken with Kansas Senator Mike Fagg in regards to this. If received, Harris noted that they would be looking at this funding the dollars outside of the first payment.
Standpipe and frost jacket replacement through Viking Industrial Painting, with a four-year payment term, was approved. Needed excavation work outside of this was also approved. Remaining COVID dollars in the amount of $17,000 are being utilized towards the first year’s payment. While work is being completed, Hamilton will operate off of a pressure tank/pump for provision of water.
Approved during the previous regular meeting was the following motion: “Drafting Ordinance 366 pertaining to manufactured homes. This is being drafted based on language in ordinances numbered 3940 – 3557 for the City of Eureka). Council members discussed changes to verbiage on the documents reviewed from Eureka. The Hamilton City Attorney will be reviewing this for revision. Harris noted the need to highlight important pieces of the language in the document for their attorney to complete the ordinance for future approval. Members of the council reviewed key items within the document. A 15year age limit, rather than the previously proposed 10year limit, for incoming modular homes was proposed by Beeman and Schlotterbeck suggested that an inspection be required. Concerns were expressed by Harris in regards to allowing 15 years. Harris noted that a set of guidelines would need to be written for the inspections and spoke in favor of the 10-year limit. When travel to the location of a trailer to conduct inspection was noted, Councilman Rodney Dimick commented that this is probably why Eureka opted for the 10-year limitation. It was then proposed that no matter the age of the trailer, it must first be inspected and approved by the council before use in the city. Discussion was had in regards to having an inspection form with requirements to be filled out as well as require photos of relevant items. A consensus was reached by council members for a 15year term.
The next meeting of the Hamilton City Council will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m.
