Council talks fairness over landfill rates

How much it costs to dump a trailer home at the Sundance landfill will now depend on whether or not the customer lives inside city limits. While believing it’s important to help citizens keep their community clean, the council doesn’t feel inclined to offer the same low rate to out-of-town residents.

Public Works Director Mac Erickson raised the issue, explaining that the fee of $350 per trailer was removed around three years ago when the city was trucking its construction and debris (C&D) refuse to an external landfill. Now Sundance has its own C&D pit again, he suggested reinstating the fee – with an important change.

“I think we should have a fee for trailer house in town and for trailer house out of town,” he said.

Mayor Paul Brooks was in immediate agreement, commenting that county residents and other municipalities declined to be a part of a countywide garbage system but still call Sundance to ask if the city landfill will take their items.

“My response is that we’re not very excited about it,” he said.

Erickson agreed that the city doesn’t necessarily want to waste the limited space in the pit on out-of-town refuse, “but then again, we could maybe make some money on it.” The city makes a profit on the frame of a trailer house and any salvageable metal, he pointed out.

When it comes to in-town trailers, offering a relatively low rate can be regarded as contributing to beautification, Brooks said, because it allows residents to remove unsightly old trailers from view.

However, Brooks also felt that giving the same good deal to county residents would make it seem as though discussions of forming a countywide garbage district are unnecessary.

“If we make it easy on these folks, they’re never going to pass a landfill district,” he said.

All council members were in agreement. Council Member Brad Marchant suggested a $1000 fee for out-of-town customers, an idea supported by Council Member Callie Hilty.

“I’m not going to fight you on that,” said Brooks.

A motion was made and passed to set the rate at $250 for city customers and $1000 for out-of-town customers.

“I think you guys are headed in the right direction,” responded Brooks. “We want to clean the town up, but I don’t want to be the vendor of choice for mobile home disposal.”