THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 20, 1994 TAG: 9407200416
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
The City Council slogged through waste disposal issues Monday night in a marathon meeting that highlighted many of the city's on-going public works and utilities headaches.
In a regular work session that started early and continued past 9:30 p.m., city officials applied their new policy on sewer hookups, debated another increase in commercial garbage rates and learned that the city's recycling service has been overwhelmed by requests since July 1.
The temporary sewer allocation policy was passed last week to ease pressure on the city's overburdened wastewater treatment system. The city has shifted final responsibility for approving sewer extensions to the North Carolina Division of Environmental Management, which will handle applications on a case-by-case basis.
A council committee on Monday recommended that the full council approve its first five applications at the Aug. 1 meeting and send them to the state.
The council also received word from engineers that the city's $21 million overhaul of its water and wastewater systems is proceeding basically on schedule and on budget. Ground breaking for the first portion of the project is expected in September.
The council dealt not only with sewage problems but also solid waste problems that have been plaguing the city for months.
Waste Industries Inc., which disposes of garbage from city businesses, is seeking its second retroactive rate increase in four months to keep up with rising dumping fees being charged by Pasquotank County.
The county's fees have soared since garbage began flowing to a new regional landfill in Bertie County that meets strict environmental requirements.
Waste Industries wants higher rates to take effect as of July 1 to match the county increase, but Councilman Lloyd Griffin led an effort to delay the higher charge until Aug. 1.
The company proposes charging $22.34 for an 8-cubic-yard dumpster, up from $20.98, and $17.67 for a 6-cubic-yard bin, up from $16.67.
The higher cost for July will be shouldered either by businesses or by Waste Industries, depending on when the council chooses to make the rate increase effective.
``To say Aug. 1 means that I'm paying people's landfill bills,'' Elizabeth City Branch Manager Tom R. Palmer told the council members. ``We did pre-warn on everyone's bill that there would be a price change.''
Just as pressing as garbage that will go to the landfill is garbage that won't. Since wide-reaching recycling requirements took effect at the beginning of the month, the city's fledgling recycling program has received more requests for service than it can handle, Public Works Director Ray Rogerson told the council.
That compounds problems resulting from the recent closing of the county's only city-based recycling center, a move that has left some council members feeling slighted.
``We are county taxpayers also,'' Councilman A.C. Robinson said. ``There are a lot of residents who still need accessibility within the city.'' by CNB