TALKING TRASH — Follansbee Council on Monday discussed raising the city’s garbage rates and defining what constitutes excess trash. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — Follansbee Council is considering raising the city’s garbage rates and defining what constitutes excess trash as part of an ongoing effort to curb costs for the sanitation department.

Following Monday’s council meeting, Mayor Scott McMahon said it’s been determined the city “loses well over six figures (per year) in that department alone.”

McMahon stressed rate hikes aren’t the only solution to the problem, as he and others also are looking at altering pickup routes and other changes to reduce expenses.

“We’re not just throwing money at it. We’re trying to look at how we can save money, too,” he said.

McMahon noted in recent months, council agreed to end Dumpster collections from local businesses, which have been advised to turn to private haulers.

Council has been presented three scenarios for consideration at next Monday’s regular meeting, with the possibility of an increase of $8 to $10 to the city’s garbage rates.

Currently, residents pay $16 per month and small businesses pay $33 per month. The charges are included with their monthly water and sewer bills.

McMahon said whatever increase is agreed upon by council, it will be comparable or less than the amounts charged by other local municipalities and private haulers.

He confirmed the revenue helps to support equipment used by the sanitation department, including the pending replacement of a 30-year-old garbage truck with a newer model with an estimated cost of at least $380,000.

In related business, 5th Ward Councilman Joe Kafton presented definitions for excess trash for which residents could be billed more.

Kafton noted that an existing ordinance allows the sanitation department to charge extra for excess trash but doesn’t define how much is excessive.

He suggested the amount could be more than three or four garbage cans while welcoming input from sanitation crews as to the average amount of trash put out from each home or business.

Kafton said establishing a definition helps residents to know if they can expect a higher-than-average bill.

In recent months, he also has suggested the city strictly follow its policy of picking up discarded furniture and other bulky items only after being called to do so.

Sanitation workers have reported more frequently finding piles of such refuse rivaling that left out during the city’s free spring and fall cleanups.

Concerns also have been raised about the city’s garbage trucks being damaged by the bulkier items.

In October, council agreed to raise the cost for city crews to collect bulky items from residents to $75 for material requiring a pickup truck and $150 for those requiring a dump truck.

In other business:

• City Manager Chris Manack-Stover suggested council consider requiring the city’s businesses to submit their business and occupation tax payments on a quarterly, rather than yearly, basis.

She said the move would improve cash flow for the city’s operations.

Second Ward Councilman John Casinelli said some businesses submit their full payments at the start of the year and was told that would still be an option.

• Council was advised the Follansbee Swim Team, a local competitive youth swimming league, would like to rent the city’s swimming pool and park shelters for a swim meet to be held on one Saturday this summer.

Manack-Stover said the group also would cover pay for the city’s lifeguards on that day while requesting the city staff the concession stand during the event, which is expected to draw nearly 400 participants and their families.

The city would receive proceeds from its sales.

• Council was advised the West Virginia Department of Agriculture would like to enter city property as part of its efforts to exterminate spotted lanternflies, an insect deemed invasive because it leaves a sticky substance in the tree of heaven, a plant on which it fees that spurs mold and attracts other pests.

Council’s next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the City Building.