The Red Deer County fee bylaw for 2012 received first reading last week but prompted a request for a workshop after councillors questioned some of the changes that would occur in transfer site fees.Under the proposed bylaw, the Horn Hill Transfer Station fees will see an increase in the fee charged for commercial, industrial and construction waste, while fees for residential waste will remain the same as 2011.Gaetz Creek and Yankee Flats Waste Transfer Station will see an increase in the fees charged for all waste except the minimum fee for household waste, which will remain the same at $5.Council questioned why there would be more increases at the two transfer stations but not Horn Hill.Administration explained the two sites are only opened twice a week and the increase would manage cost recovery.The smaller stations aren't equipped with scales and are typically used for one-off situations.People pay by the load at Gaetz Creek and Yankee Flats while Horn Hill charges by the tonne. At the smaller stations, the cost of a load starts at $5 and goes up to $16 for a pickup truck or trailer shorter than eight feet, to be determined at the discretion of an operator. The recommended increase in price is $1 more for pickup truck and trailers shorter than eight feet and $2 to $6 more for one, two and three-ton trucks and trailers. Residential waste at Horn Hill is $57 a tonne.ìAs prices increase, it entices people not to use the facility. We want them used ñ we don't want to see garbage in the ditches. I'm not sure I agree with increases in one site and not the other,î said Mayor Jim Wood.Div. 2 Coun. Don Nesbitt questioned the need to increase fees when taxes are going up. ìWhy increase the tax overall to 3.5 per cent for inflation Ö and stick another nickel in them? People are going to go to commercial garbage pickup,î he said.Div. 4 Coun. Dave Hoar said even with a slight increase people will still be paying less to get rid of their garbage at Gaetz Creek or Yankee Flats and didn't see an issue with the increase.Div. 6 Coun. George Gerhke agreed with Hoar but took issue with not increasing fees at Horn Hill.ìWith Horn Hill there's competition. We have to keep the price higher than our neighbours or we'll be inundated with our neighbours' garbage and we can't afford it.îCouncil agreed to pass first reading but requested a workshop to hash out questions surrounding increased fees.
