Published: May 13, 2008 11:12 pm            

Grayson approves a garbage rate increase

Increasing diesel fuel costs cited as reason

GRAYSON — Citing the spiraling rise of diesel fuel costs as the culprit, Frank Rice apologized to Grayson City Council members Monday evening as he requested an almost immediate increase in waste collection fees.

“Diesel is $4.32 a gallon today. It was $1.49 a gallon the last time I was before the council,” said Rice, owner and president of Grayson Sanitation Inc., explaining the company has made tremendous efforts to absorb the rising cost of fuel in recent months and had delayed making a rate increase request while waiting for operating costs to stabilize. “We really need it or we wouldn’t be here.”

After the meeting, Rice said the business has also been dealing with other fuel-related cost increases, including a sharp increase for metal trash containers.

City officials approved Grayson Sanitation’s request for a $2 per month increase on residential accounts, bringing the bill from $12 to $14, and from $9 to $11 for senior citizens. Rice pledged the company will work with any senior citizen whose budget can’t cover the higher cost. Business customers will pay according to the size of their trash container, with a $5 per load increase for size one through three units, and $10 per load for receptacles in sizes four through eight.

The rate increase will be effective as of the next billing cycle, starting at the first of June.

In other business during Monday’s meeting, council members unanimously approved planning and zoning issues, some of which have been subject of discussion for the past four years. The proposals included a provision to prevent an off-site manufactured structure, commonly known as a “house trailer,” as a business; establish material and design standards for new construction or renovations in the city’s Renaissance district; adopt standards for sign size and placement; and establish new setback requirements to more realistically accommodate expansion and renovation needs for existing structures.

        

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