A Ray’s Trash Service employee hangs on the back of a trash truck as the truck drives down Main Street in Franklin.
Leeann Doerflein | Daily Journal
Franklin residents have an opportunity to comment Tuesday on the city’s plans to pass on trash fees to residents.
The ordinance would apply to every household that pays a sewer bill, including single-family homeowners and people who rent a house or duplex. The ordinance does not apply to businesses or people who rent from a commercial landowner, including all multi-family complexes with three or more units.
The cost is being passed on because, as the city has grown, so has the price tag to collect trash. A $1.7 million contract the city entered into with Ray’s Trash Service is too high to pay without sacrificing other services or asking employees to forego pay raises, city leaders said.
The new contract is double the amount of the previous contract, which was low because the city was able to extend it multiple times from a rate that was negotiated 10 years ago.
Divided among each household, the $1.7 million contract would translate to $17.22 per month. Included in that fee is weekly trash and bi-weekly recycling pickup and one can for each of those services. Residents can pay extra for additional cans.
Both containers are being upgraded to 96-gallon rolling bins that are designed to be picked up and dumped into the trash trucks via attached mechanical arms.
Residents would pay the fee starting April 1. The city will continue to cover the cost of trash pick-up through March.
Residents would have the ability to temporarily shut off trash services by petitioning the Franklin Board of Public Works and Safety at least 30 days prior to an absence of at least 90 days.
The full ordinance, including late-fee policies, is available to read online. It can be accessed via a link on franklin.in.gov in the city council meeting agenda for Tuesday’s meeting.
The public can share comments at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Franklin City Hall, 71 E. Court Street. The council will vote on the trash ordinance at its second January meeting Jan. 19.
