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by Floyd Egner
Publisher, Tropical Breeze

Water and sewer rates are being increased in Safety Harbor, but low volume water users will get a break. The city is implementing a new system that charges all customers a base fee and then charges by usage. The result is that about half of all water users should see a reduction in their bills, while heavier users will be charged more.

The break will be temporary, however, because water rates will increase 11.5 percent in October in the third of five annual rate increases. City Finance Director Joanne Ryan said the increases are required by the terms of bonds the city sold. A study showed the city was operating its water and sewer funds at a loss.

City commissioners also have approved changes in the waste collection system that will not result in a direct rate increase, but may mean residents will be charged more frequently for special pickups. Currently the city’s automated and manned garbage trucks operate on a daily basis throughout the city. A schedule beginning June 1 will reduce the routes of the manned garbage trucks, which means less frequent pickups of items that do not fit in the city-issued 90-gallon cans.

City Manager Matthew Spoor emphasized the change will not reduce the quality of garbage service, but the frequency of trips. Reducing fuel use and employee hours will help avoid additional rate hikes. Spoor said the city also has saved money by bringing its recycling program in-house.

Recycling helps reduce garbage collection costs because the city sells the materials collected in recycling bins, helping to pay for the program. Additionally, less material sent to the county incinerator means the city pays less in dumping fees.

Spoor called on city residents to help keep costs down by understanding how to properly use the 90-gallon garbage containers, which are collected twice weekly with an automated truck. If a household generates a small amount of garbage, the city would prefer the container only be put out for collection once. He said city equipment actually can be damaged by picking up empty containers inadvertently left at the curb. Once emptied, city code requires the containers be put away.

The biggest problem, he told commissioners, are households that abuse the city’s special pickup service. Yard waste is to be placed in 32-gallon containers — standard garbage cans, not in plastic bags. Anything in plastic bags is collected by a manned garbage truck and sent to the incinerator, rather than being run through a shredder for use as mulch. Similarly, garbage placed in 32-gallon cans requires collection by a manned truck, resulting in additional expense.

The city will pick up a maximum of five items each week that are too large to fit into the 90-gallon cans, such as furniture or mattresses. A larger quantity of such items will result in a special pickup bill, he said.