Rate hike dies Tues. night

A proposed solid waste rate increase died Tuesday night when the Green River City Council decided not to make a motion for its approval.

The increase, according to city documents, would have increased weekly service to the standard 90-gallon residential containers from $25.50 a month to $43. Each additional container at a residence would be billed $25.50 a month, while monthly service to 300 gallon containers would be charged $75 a month.

The lift rate for collections more than once a week would be set at $20 through the proposal.

When the Council arrived at the rate increase’s item on its agenda, a call for a motion from Mayor Pete Rust was met with silence, killing the proposal. Rust later said the Council continues to deliberate regarding what it will do with the issues surrounding the city’s solid waste division.

Proponents of privatizing the solid waste service spoke to the Council during its meeting.

Casey Doak, a resident of the city, said residents should have the option of having a private solid waste service collect their garbage, saying residents can’t afford the costs proposed by the city.

Doak said competition would make prices lower for residents, asking the city to delay their decision and explore options regarding private waste collection companies.

The regional sales manager of Wyoming Waste Systems, Aaron Donley, also approached the Council and listed a series of prices he claimed Wyoming Waste Systems would charge for collection in Green River. He said basic garbage collection could still be accomplished at $25.50 and asked the Council to postpone its vote and open discussions between the city and his company.

Rust said there hasn’t been communications on either an official or unofficial capacity between the city and Wyoming Waste Systems.