This week the city commission got a first look at what it would cost residents to bring back a form of free bulky item pickup — a service the city started charging individual fees for three years ago.
The city commission is looking at how to bring back bulky item pickups — at one time a service offered free to utility customers in the city.
For three years those who needed a large item disposed of — beds, furniture, tree limbs and others — have paid a $10 fee for the city to pick up those items. That $10 is added to the utility bill of the user.
The result of the fee is fewer people calling to have things picked up — dropping from 8,059 pickups in 2015 when it was free to 2,131 pickups last year.
“Where is all that stuff, is it staying in homes? … Did we see an increase in landfill coupons,” asked Rod Kreie, city commissioner.
Less than 2,000 coupons were used last year, according to city staff. Each utility customer can get two coupons from the city for free trips to the county transfer station.
There is a way to bring back the service, though it would look different — and it would not actually be free. The estimated increase needed to fund a new bulky item pickup is $1.63 per month per utility account. There are currently 7,642 utility accounts served by the city.
“I look at that and see that we can do all of that for only $1.63 per month?” said Mayor Kathy Valentine.
(Read more: Newton Kansan)