Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The City of Tekoa has adjusted its dumpster-rental policy in an effort to lessen the risk of losing money on the endeavor.
The new policy, which affects residential use, requires residents to pay before a dumpster is delivered from Empire Disposal.
Voting to amend Ordinance 817 on Nov. 17, the city council approved the change.
The city has a long-standing arrangement with Empire Disposal to provide dumpsters, which are rented to city residents for purposes such as tear-down projects or cleaning out a home.
“We’re the middle man,” said Tekoa mayor John Jaeger. “They charge us, we charge the people.”
Citing incidents in which people paid less than their full bill, Jaeger said the city instead has had to cover the costs.
The town offers dumpsters in one to eight-yard sizes, for which Empire Disposal bills according to size, mileage for delivery and per pick-up/dump. So the costs vary.
“Sometimes the total is more than people anticipate,” said Kynda Browning, Tekoa City Clerk/Treasurer. “This way, they know better how much it costs up front.”
According to the agreement between Empire Disposal and Tekoa, Empire bills the city directly for the dumpsters rented, along with the delivery fees and pickup fees, as they occur.
When a resident rents a dumpster and pays the bill(s) for it, the city receives a portion of the proceeds through an administrative fee, which then goes into the town’s general fund.
All told, Browing indicated that the dumpster-rental arrangement has been mostly smooth.
“We save Empire from having to collect, etcetera, so it’s a benefit to them,” she said.
The town rents residential dumpsters sporadically. For the 2014 city budget, Browning estimated Tekoa would bring in $1,300 from the program.
“Right now, it’s at about $1,500,” she said.
All of it will go to the general fund.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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