By Thia James

Landfill costs rise, so could fees for out-of-towners

Mar 31, 2015 | 6:37 AM

Prince Albert could raise fees for landfill users who are not residents of communities that are partnered with the City on waste management issues.

In a special budget committee meeting held on Monday, members of council discussed the 2015 Sanitation Fund budget. The committee forwarded the budget to an upcoming council meeting to receive its final approval.

While the budget projects a $259,340 surplus – which will fund capital projects – it also reflects the rising costs of operating the landfill. Those rising costs are being attributed to decisions made at the provincial level.

The City is in its final year of multi-year sanitation fund rate increases, which were set in 2011. Going into the 2016 budget, council is leaning towards having administration review sanitation fund rates, according to city manager Jim Toye.

He said the rates would include an option that would see people who live outside of the city or communities partnered with Prince Albert in waste management issues pay a different rate. An example of such a partnership would be the co-ownership of North Central Saskatchewan Waste Management, which is shared by Prince Albert and a number of surrounding communities. 

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“Now, that is just one option. We will have various options, but that will be one option as I heard very loud and clear, administration heard very loud and clear, that’s something that some of city council was supporting,” he said.

Administration will prepare a report that will look at what the rates will mean over a period of a few years, and what the revenues would look like, Toye added.

It’s a suggestion that was put forward in part by Coun. Martin Ring during the meeting.

“I don’t believe we are charging enough to those outside municipalities to truly help us fund this landfill and its future needs going forward,” he said. Ring added the landfill was classified as a regional landfill when it was set up.

The City is, however, facing increased costs related to the findings from a provincial regulatory audit last year. According to the 2015 Sanitation Fund budget, the audit identified what kinds of increased monitoring were required and what else needed to take place at the landfill in the future.

The City has set aside additional funds for groundwater monitoring — an additional $40,000 to bring the annual total cost to $70,000. The City has to develop and refine a 3-D groundwater model, which will cost $40,000. It will also need to drill more groundwater monitoring wells for $160,000, among other requirements.

“Higher levels of government, such as the federal government and the provincial government have set regulations that are very strict and we have to adhere to those regulations and those are costing us more money,” Toye said.

He explained that the City has to ensure there isn’t anything leaching into the groundwater, and there are also limitations on what the landfill can accept and how certain items, such as those containing asbestos, can be stored on site.

Soon, the City won’t be able to accept soils that are contaminated with gasoline unless it has a cell that is lined to prevent leaching.

“So, the regulations are changing all the time and, you know, we have to make sure we adhere to them, because we want to protect our citizens from any type of lawsuits or anything like that,” he said.

The 2015 Sanitation Fund budget is projecting operating revenues of more than $3.7 million and operating expenses of more than $3.2 million.

The City projects revenues from landfill fees for 2015 to be $1,602,000. It’s also projecting revenues of $2,070,240 from the sanitation surcharge, which is $15.20 per month for property owners.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames