Cost cuts, fee hikes balance solid waste fund

The city's solid waste enterprise fund is teetering on the negative, but the McCook City Council approved actions Monday night to trim costs and boost revenue.

First, the council awarded the contract to haul city waste to the Ogallala landfill to Fritz Trucking, a move that will save the city an estimated $25,000.

Then, when discussing the solid waste budget, the council approved increasing by $2 the fees to dump commercial household waste at the McCook Transfer Station, from $56 per ton to $58 per ton.

Residential customers will also see an increase, from $17 per month to $18.50 per month, with the $1.50 increase the council also approved. This increase is part of the $3 increase recommended by an auditor to boost funds in solid waste.

The increases go into effect Oct. 1.

As a consent agenda item and without discussion, the council awarded the bid to haul the city's trash to Fritz Trucking for $13.50 per ton, plus a fuel surcharge of $.08 per ton for every $.05 of fuel costs above $2.75 per gallon.

This is lower than the current contract with C and J Trucking, at $14.50 per ton with a fuel surcharge of actual fuel cost above $2.15 per gallon.

Fritz's bid was one of four the city received for the contract. Other bids came from C and J Trucking, at $15.75 per ton; Dan's Sanitation, at $18 per ton and DFR, at $22.00.

Based on $3.50 per gallon of fuel and 13,000 tons of waste hauled, the bid from Fritz came in the lowest.