Royal will pay more for services next year

Rates that the City of Royal will pay for solid waste collection and law enforcement coverage will increase next year.

The city’s contract with Town & Country Disposal expires on Dec. 1. They are proposing a 3 percent increase each year for the next five years. According to information presented on Nov. 9, the residential collection rate charged by Town & Country will increase a total of $2.35 per month. The current rate is $15.75 while the proposed rate for the final year of a new agreement is $18.10. That equates to a 47 cent increase per month each year.

Town & Country’s proposed monthly rate for recycling collection will increase from $2 to $2.50.

According to the proposal, the 15 percent overall increase is 5 percent lower than Consumer Price Index increases for the past five years.

“We went a little lower than what our corporate told us to,” said Josh Rittenhouse, who noted the proposed increase in recycling collection is due to higher disposal rates.

Mayor Josh Toft asked if a clean-up day could also be scheduled in the fall. The current contract provides for only one clean-up day.

“I think we need to do two a year,” Toft said.

Rittenhouse confirmed with Brad Beyenhof of Town and Country that a second clean-up day is possible.

“He said it is totally fine. The prices should be the same as in the spring.”

A contract with the addition of a second clean-up day will be approved in December.

The council also discussed a proposed increase in contract law enforcement with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Discussion was not scheduled this month, but Sheriff Chris Raveling was present to explain terms of the proposed contract.

The sheriff’s office is asking for a 10 percent increase. Royal currently pays $11,970 annually. The proposed increase, which is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, would add $1,197 to the city’s annual costs.

Raveling said the current rate has been in place for five years. Cost hikes prompted him to seek an increase in contract rates.

“My fuel budget has gone haywire over the last two years. The cost of living is more expensive,” Raveling explained.

No changes in services are proposed.

“I think we do a pretty good job of covering Royal,” Raveling noted.

The council will act on the matter next month.

“The cost of absolutely everything is going up. This should be no different,” said Council Member Sara Ricke.

“We can’t hire anyone for that,” Council Member Jim Virelli added.

One increase the council did approve was the rental and cleanup deposit for the community center. The city currently charges $75 to rent the building and requires a $50 deposit. All or a portion of the latter is refunded, depending on the condition of the building after the event.

City Clerk Barb Fletcher explained that according to the city attorney, different rates cannot be charged for various types of events.

“I’d say let’s go to $250,” said Council Member Matt Goyette. “We can’t [complain] about not having money and having to clean up, and not raise the rent.”

Council members agreed to raise the rental to $100 and the cleaning deposit to $150.

“If the cleaning fee is raised, people will clean up to get it back,” Ricke noted. “Fifty dollars is not enough. People will walk away from $50.”

The new fees go into effect on Jan. 1. Any events already scheduled next year will be charged the current rates.