COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – As part of a five year contract with Republic Services, the Coldwater City Council approved a resolution Monday night that would increase the monthly cost of collecting refuse, large items, and recycling by one dollar August 1, 2019.
The monthly garbage service cost would increase to $15 for each residence. Senior citizens would pay $13.75 a month.
City Manager Keith Baker said the increase is part of a fee schedule established by Republic Services in a contract with the city, which runs through April 2022, to keep the City Refuse Fund from operating at a loss.
The contract calls for residential garbage collection rates to eventually go up to $15.40 in the fifth year.
Baker told the Council that Coldwater garbage rates are still low when compared to other communities. He pointed out large item pickups and recycling are not included in most of the other contracts that other communities have.
The city hired Republic as a third party contractor in 2012 to take care of garbage and recycling collections due to rising costs, the closure of a local transfer station, and the need to replace two aging garbage trucks.
Baker said when the contract with Republic Services was renewed in 2017 that the city refuse fund had been operating at a loss for two years and that there has been no change to the monthly fee for 20 years.
