City Votes To Change Fees

By Gordon HopkinsThe Fairbury City Council voted to make changes to certain fees at a meeting on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.Asbestos FeesThe resolution would change the test that determines if asbestos must be removed before the demolition of a building. While the test would be more expensive, it is hoped it would ultimately save money by eliminating unnecessary asbestos removal.According to a memo from Fairbury City Clerk Erin Reimer, “For an additional charge the city could potentially eliminate the need for asbestos removal in qualifying properties. For an additional fee the city could elevate the process of how the samples are tested to get an even more accurate count of the asbestos percentage in a product(sample).”The extra process is a 400-point count. For example, a drywall sample can come back as two percent asbestos. Reimer indicates that if a 400-point count is done, then there is a chance the drywall will come back as less than one percent asbestos, and no longer will need to be removed before demolition.Reimer’s memo noted, “If we do not have this extra testing done, we will then incur the costs of an abatement company having to remove all the drywall in a structure. A $150-$200 test cost versus thousands in removal. The costs incurred would continue to be billed to the homeowner.”The current fee is $14. The council voted to that the new fee be set at $35.50.Transfer Station PenaltyIn April of 2022 the council approved Ordinance 3107, allowing a five percent penalty to all past due utility billings. Currently, the transfer station accounts are not included in this ordinance. Reimer’s memo recommended changing that. The five percent penalty would be assessed just as the utility billings are applied on the 22nd of the month with the bill due date of the 21st.Commercial Waste DumpingCurrently, the city accepts porta pots/septic tank waste disposal from commercial haulers, charged at $.070 per gallon. The city has two routine waste disposers, in which one disposes of waste one to two times per week (average monthly billing $5.60) and the other two to three times per month (in excess of 1,000 gallons).According to Reimer, the current amount being billed does not accommodate the tracking time of the disposals by staff and the city does not have this amount in policy, as this is a fee that has just been done for over 20 years in this manner. For reference, Reimer pointed out that Crete does not accept waste disposal in this manner and Beatrice charges $35 up to 1,000 gallons of disposal and $35/1,000 gallons over the initial fee.The city council agreed to a monthly invoice for haulers outside of their utility account with a minimum charge of $25, disposal in excess of 350 gallons will be charged at the rate of $.07¢ per gallon, noting each disposal will constitute a separate charge.

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