Lewis County Herald - Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898

A committee appointed by the Lewis County Board of Commissioners met Monday evening to find a solution to a projected $111,000 shortfall in the Solid Waste budget for the remainder of the current fiscal year.

The result is a six level commercial fee scale that could encompass rate hikes for businesses and non-profits alike.

Close scrutiny of current businesses revealed some entities not being charged and others paying fees that did not match similar businesses. The fee scale had not been updated for more than 20 years, a county official stated.

The City of Hohenwald creates a time study for city garbage routes that was used as a comparison to county rates charged.

If the rate increases pass, businesses at the lowest level, Level one, will be charged $60 per quarter, or $240 annually, with Level 6 businesses charged as much as $10,000 per year.

See accompanying chart for Levels and associated fees.

Examples of Level four and five businesses include grocery stores, health clinics, and fast food restaurants, while level one, two and three businesses are smaller, with less traffic and less refuse.

Lewis County Schools is one example of an entity that had not been charged a fee, but would now pay $2,500 quarterly, $10,000 annually, if the measure passed a county commission vote Monday evening.

A resolution outlining the commercial rate increases will be presented to the full Board of Lewis County Commissioners February 24, 2020.

Commissioner Ronnie Brewer, a member of the committee, said residential rates will not be affected by the proposed increase.

Other members of the committee included Commissioners Patrick Halfacre, Allison Tanner, Connie Sharp and Robert Brewer, who was absent for the Monday evening meeting due to a school function.

The fee increases should increase revenue for the Solid Waste Department by $128,256, covering the shortfall and allowing for other expenses such as a backhoe repair needed this week.

A recent visit to the Lewis County Landfill found recycling bins under utilized with a trailer to be hauled away containing recyclable items.

County Garbage Service owner/operator Bradley Loveless, a private company, supports recycling and would like to see lighter loads hauled from the local landfill.

"It pays to keep recyclables out of the trailers, he commented. "It would save tons," he said.

"It's simple math, don't put it in the trailer and we don't pay for it."

Local businesses like Clayton Recycling accept metals and pay customers based on the type and weight.

"We buy base metals like brass, copper, aluminum and steel," owner Lucas Clayton said in an interview Tuesday.

"And we also buy a broad spectrum of other metals that vary," he added, mentioning appliances and cars. "The scrap metal market is endless."

Current prices for aluminum are 30 cents a pound. Food cans, usually steel, may bring only four and one-half cents a pound, he said, but, he pointed out, it does not take as many to make a pound.

"Recycling has to be convenient or no one is gonna do it," Bradley Loveless remarked. Lucas Clayton agreed.

According to online statistics, only 34 percent of Americans recycle. In a small county, that may not add up to many households.

Lewis County began paying higher tipping fees this month for the transport of household waste. Shipping trash to Lewisburg when the Decatur County landfill closed, means more money for taxpayers.

A 53 foot long trailer load with an average weight of 20 tons is hauled from Lewis County Landfill every day, Mayor Keltner reported.

Lewis County businesses and residents currently pay to dispose of 6,660 tons per year, an average of 555 tons per month.

Out of sight, out of mind, maybe. But if that landfill closes or becomes full, then what?