Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council and Public Works Committee met in Special Session, Thursday at City Hall, at 3-p.m. to address issues regarding the Jamestown Sanitation Utility operation Analysis and Report, and recycling.  All members were present. Now showing on CSi 67 & Online here. HDR presentation starts at 1 minute 30 seconds into video.

Video as aired live on CSi 67 March 10

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The City Council meeting recessed to allow the Public Works Committee to convene, as Brent Erickson of HDR, Inc., gave details of the new Jamestown Sanitation Utility and Operational Analysis and Report, a 74 page draft document.

The breakdown consists of financials, assessments, the feasibility for residential recycling, and a rate projection.  The report included the “enterprize utility,” consisting of the landfill for disposal and collections at residence.

He said a rate increase will be needed in those areas, for operational increases.  The tipping fees would increase to generate sufficient revenues for the future, plus regulations.

A deficit is also projected in collections, with rate increases recommended, specifically with commercial collections.

A cart provided by the city would be in conjunction with a can provided by the city, which allows automated collections, with one person the driver, operating the system. It would reduce the number of trucks from three to two, and reduces the labor numbers and possibility for injuries.

The customer is charged based on volume collected.  With recycling he said the cost projections are lower than the figures he presented last November. Additional drop off sites are NOT recommended.

Mandatoory yard waste collections will be added, if approved. The process would be in conjunction with automated curbside collection.  Dual stream collection where residents sort the items by type, or single stream where all recyclables are put into one container by customers are option.

Weekly or biweekly recycling collections are also options.  He said recycling will not save dollars for garbage collection.  12 years of recycling will save one year of less garbage collected at the landfill.  A new landfill cell will be needed by 2017, or 2018.

The Study recommends using single stream curbside recycling at a cost of $350,000 to $400,000 per year. Privatized contractors to perform the collections is also an option, including all phases of collection.

Rate projections are based on the options of automated service, including yard waste collection  at $12 to $14 per month, including one disposal cart, with more carts or larger carts an option at a higher rate.

City Administrator Jeff Fuchs pointed out handling the internal costs to the city, including the logistics of distributing and maintaining the containers, and switching cart sizes.

Erickson said an option is a middle size cart be distributed, and if more volume is needed, to add more carts.  Erickson said a fee can be implemented in changing cart sizes, adding that the carts are longer lasting. He said the collection sites, alleys or curbside, would remain the same as present.

The final report will be given to the city, for consideration to determine rate structures and other policies.

From the audience Mike Neumiller said that the information provided to HDR consisted of assumptions, which will affect the date HDR had to use to make the study. Joan Morris from the City Beautification Committee questioned if the report contained input from a stakeholders meeting, concerning costs, and how the Request For Proposals was performed, and if issues were included in the contract.

The City Council reconvened to address the tabled Payments to HDR Engineering in the amount of $7,336.25 and $6,126.72. Any remaining costs from any additional work by HDR was not specifically known, based on hourly costs, as one more bill will be coming.

Mayor Andersen suggested tabling payment until the scope of service is reviewed.

Council Member Gumke moved to make payment of both bills, costs that been incurred, so far.

The City Council voted to 4-1 to pay the bill with Mayor Andersen voting in opposition.

The meeting was shown live on CSi 67 followed by replays.