Kittanning Borough Can’t Agree on Buying Garbage Truck

by Jonathan Weaver

An effort to replace a 10-year-old garbage truck in Kittanning Borough was dashed, at least temporarily.

After detailed discussion last month and throughout the past few sessions, Kittanning Borough elected officials were not able to agree on a plan to purchase the borough a new garbage truck.

First Ward Councilwoman Betsy Wilt attempted two separate motions to purchase the truck from Tri-County Truck Center, along Route 28/66, at last night’s regular meeting, but both did not result in enough positive votes.

Wilt’s initial request included purchasing the truck, but would have required a $2 per month garbage fee increase in order to finance the purchase.

“And, I’d also like a resolution attached to that that when (the truck) is paid off, the $2 increase would go into a separate fund for the purchase of the next garbage truck we need,” Wilt said. “Because I think that’s what happened the last time we needed (a truck). We did have a raise in the rates, but we didn’t have the money saved after it was paid off.”

Wilt estimated it would take seven years to pay off the new truck.

Mayor Kirk Atwood and Council President Kim Fox agreed raising garbage rates would not do.

“Raising our fee is not acceptable,” Mayor Atwood said. “We’re $7 higher than Ford City per month! This is a tax increase – we’re going to shell it like it’s not.”

Council President Fox added that garbage rates increased $5 just within the past decade and council members should at least look at possibly sourcing out waste management.

“I think there are other ways to make some changes financially that I think would pay for the garbage truck,” Fox said. “I think we have some options that more than cover it.

“We owe it to the residents to do a study and get quotes. In the past, it hasn’t been feasible.”

Councilman Andy Peters justified the increase would break down to $2 per week, which is referred to as “peanuts.”

Former Councilman Tom Close argued that council members and former police officials have not properly-enforced the system.

As part of the final budget, council members project garbage collection will collect about $750,000 in 2017. But, after more than a handful of expenses, Kittanning Borough will only profit about $336,400.

4 Comments

• 

  By jorn jensen, December 6, 2016 @ 7:15 AM

  Kittanning needs to get out of the garbage business and contract out that work. Costs will go down.
• 

  By ktown_kid, December 6, 2016 @ 10:33 AM

  Get rid of the garbage truck all together!!! So Mr. PETERS IF $2 A WEEK IS JUST PEANUTS, HOW ABOUT YOU PAY THAT FOR EVERYONE!! My average bill is $80 for sewage and garbage a month. Thats highway robbery. We have no business trying to run a garbage business!
• 

  By Rainbow Rider, December 6, 2016 @ 11:20 AM

  The borough profits $336,000 from garbage??? Is this correct information?? If so it’s a highly profitable bidness!
  When is Jefferson St going to be open for two way traffic? Are they going to keep delaying it until nobody is looking and then just kinda not do it?
• 

  By Resident, December 7, 2016 @ 1:27 AM

  I’m curious as to what the people in Kittanning pay for garbage? I pay $15 a month at the house and also rent a regular sized dumpster at my shop for $50 a month from Schumacher. My water bill at the house is $23 a month while it’s free at the shop from the well. The Sewage at the house is high at $45 a month but also free at the shop since we use a septic tank. You folks in Kittanning are paying more than $15 a month maybe you should tell council to get out of the garbage business.

Other Links to this Post

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.