Rate increase OK'd

The Green River City Council approved a rate increased proposed by Wyoming Waste Systems, but questioned what would happen if the Council decided not to approve the request.

The Council approved the increase unanimously during its meeting last week. The increase will go into effect in January, increasing rates by 57 cents a month over current rates. The increase is in accordance with an increase in the Consumer Price Index and is allowed under the contract WWS has with the city.

Following questions of if the city could deny the increase, Chris Meats, finance director, said the city could decline to approve the increase, which would result in one of two situations: either WWS would litigate the city or WWS would initiate the increase anyway and wait for the city to initiate legal proceedings.

According to Galen West, the city’s attorney, the Council would need “significant documentation” to show why the Council would want to deny the request. He said the city can’t unreasonably withhold the rate increase from WWS. He also said the basis for the denial would need to be stated during a public meeting prior to the Council voting.

The approval also does not change the weight limit residents are allowed to bring to the city’s transfer station. The limit, currently at 1,800 pounds, was established in the contract between the city and WWS. Michelle Foote, site director for WWS in Rock Springs, requested the city reconsider the limit, proposing a limit 1,000 pounds, because the company is not seeing the volume it initially expected.

 

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