City seeks fee increase for garbage service

NEW LONDON – Less than a year since a citywide garbage collection service began on April 1 in the city of New London, the New London Board of Public Works/Sewer Utility Commission recommended to the New London Common Council that it approve a $2 per month fee increase to help cover the city’s personnel costs.

The recommendation came at the commission’s Aug. 31 meeting. The proposed increase would increase the annual cost for city residents for garbage collection service to $180.48. The council was scheduled to discuss the matter at its Sept. 15 meeting.

At the commission meeting, Robert Garske, director of Public Works for the city of New London, told the commission that when the city first proposed a citywide garbage collection service, additional fees were also considered to cover the work done by city staff to manage the service and future fuel cost increases for the service.

“Being that this is a brand-new thing for the city, even though it’s reaching out to other communities, you really couldn’t narrow down an assigned fee,” Garske said.

Garske said even though the garbage collection contractor is supposed to be contacted if issues arise, residents have been contacting the city instead.

“I don’t know if residents feel better reaching out to us first because they have that connection, but we received a lot of calls,” Garske said.

A lot of work and time by city staff was also needed to develop the original list of residents for the garbage contractor, Garske said. He added that not all the time spent by city staff working on citywide garbage collection items is being covered by the fees the city had decided to charge residents for the service.

In addition, Garske said that for a variety of reasons, the city does not have enough employees to handle all the needs of the city. He added that fuel costs are also increasing.

Now that the city knows how much work is required for the citywide garbage collection service, Garske asked the commission if it was possible to have a part-time employee become a fulltime employee. After meeting with Judy Radke, treasurer and finance director for the city of New London, Garske told the committee if the city increased the garbage collection fee for residents by $2 per month, the amount of money collected would cover the change from part-time to fulltime, as well as potential increases in fuel costs.

The $2 per month increase in garbage collection fees would increase the annual cost for residents in 2027 from $156.48 to $180.48. This would produce $87,247 in revenue for the city.

Garske said the garbage collection fees should be reviewed annually when the city is developing its yearly budget.

Ald. Tim Roberts asked if a part-time employee for the city is currently handling the garbage collection duties for the city.

New London City Administrator Chad Hoerth said the city has a fulltime and a part-time administrative assistant whom also handling the work that needs to be done for the garbage collection service.   

Roberts said he does not understand why the city needs to devote that much time to handle garbage collection items when the calls are supposed to go to GFL, the garbage contractor that the New London Common Council approved for the service.

“That was the agreement we had with them when we were negotiating,” Roberts said.

Roberts asked if the city could switch contractors to Harter’s Fox Valley Disposal, the other company that submitted a bid for the city’s garbage collection contract.

“I don’t understand why we’re having a fulltime person handling garbage, that’s just absolutely ridiculous,” Roberts said.

Hoerth said if the part-time employee was switched to fulltime, that employee would have more duties than just items related to the garbage collection service.

“This is a way to bring in revenue to help us get more staff back there to help us with all the duties that are going on in the back office,” Hoerth said.

Hoerth added, “We are hurting for staff. I want to make that clear. We are behind in a lot of stuff. This is a way to help us alleviate the pressures that we have in the office.”

Roberts suggested the city wait a year before making a decision because the garbage collection service should get smoother after the first year. He said he does not want to “nickel and dime” the city’s residents with fee increases.

“Nobody likes raising the fees, but our costs are going up,” Hoerth said.

In addition, Hoerth said levy limits prevent the city from increasing taxes to cover all the cost increases.

“Our responsibilities and the expectations from the public (are increasing),” Hoerth said. “Every time we turn around, we’re being expected to do more. Those pressures continue. The money has to come from somewhere if we’re going to continue these services.”

Garske added that the city is still handling recycling for city residents.

Ald. David Dorsey said he did not like the idea of a citywide garbage collection service and this is proof that it was a mistake. He also agreed that the city needs more employees to do the work of the city.

“I guess if this is the way we’re going to fund it, so be it,” Dorsey said. “But again, the whole garbage thing was a mistake from the beginning.”

Ald. Lawrence Hutchison asked how many residents would notice a $2 increase per month for the garbage collection service.

“If you need the help, isn’t that a good way to do it?” Hutchison asked.