Wednesday, May 12, 2004

Landfill tipping fees will increase By JOHN THOMPSON jthompson@thecitizennews.com Fayette residents will now be faced with paying a small fee to get rid of their leaves and limbs. Last week, the Fayette County Commission voted 4-1 to start charging residents and commercial vehicles for yard debris brought to the county’s landfill on First Manassas Road southwest of Fayetteville. Commissioner Herb Frady was the lone dissenting vote and he said it was an unnecessary fee for residents. The county had talked about the issue two weeks ago, and finally voted on the issue last Thursday. “I think it’s a lot fairer fee,” said Commission Chairman Greg Dunn. Business Services Director Ron Salmons had initially proposed charging $4 for carloads, $8 for pickups and $30 a ton for larger vehicles. But after crunching numbers for the last two weeks, Salmons came back with a revised proposal. The new fees will now be $1 for cars, $3 for pickups and $25 a ton for all other vehicles. He estimates the fees will bring in $72,500 to the county’s coffers, which will pay for the operations. Expenses for personnel and grinding costs are pegged at $66,075, so the county will make a slight profit, if the estimates are correct. In other news, the county tabled voting on a proposed SPLOST vote in the fall for transportation projects. County attorney Bill McNally said he was still doing research on the issue, but that it would be ready to be voted on at the May 27 meeting.