A day after the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) spelling out the utility’s takeover of trash and recycling billing on behalf of Republic Services, Morgantown City Council followed suit.
During its recent regular meeting, council unanimously approved MUB’s billing takeover for residential customers, which will allow Republic to focus solely on picking up the trash.
City Manager Paul Brake explained that customers will see a change in the frequency of payments as MUB sends out bills every other month as opposed to Republic’s quarterly billing schedule.
As previously reported, the changeover will begin May 1.
It was explained that customers who have an automated payment process will need to make the proper adjustments. City Attorney Ryan Simonton said both MUB and Republic will send out mailers regarding the switch.
As for changes in cost, the net result for customers will be a monthly increase of 3 cents, or 36 cents over a year, according to Brake.
The move to allow MUB to handle billing will set up a single-payer system through the city. The city pays Republic. Republic picks up everyone’s trash. MUB handles billing collections from customers and delivers that money to the city.
Unlike the existing system in which the city police and court ultimately get involved for non-payment, MUB already has customer social security numbers, meaning non-payment will result in collections and ultimately impact customer credit.
MUB will identify residential customers based on the size of their respective water connections. The MOU notes, “A City resident or landowner enrolled in and taking water service from MUB and connected to the water system by a 5/8” water meter shall be presumed to be a residential solid waste customer.”
Brake said any change comes with adjustments, but he’s optimistic this will be a more efficient setup.
“I think it’s a good partnership with MUB,” Brake said. “We remain optimistic. That’s not to say there won’t be some hiccups associated with it, but I think, again, cleaner city, less involvement with the police department. Those were the two main objectives that I saw as deficient in the current model.”
In other city news, council continued budget approvals with a unanimous vote in support of a $6,115,259.60 capital escrow budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
According to the budget document, the capital escrow budget includes funding appropriations for a number of agencies and events, just a few of which include: Sunnyside redevelopment ($200,000), Safe Communities ($50,510), Main Street Morgantown ($98,938.48) and Your Community Foundation ($50,000).
Council also approved spending plans for the Morgantown Municipal Airport ($2,633,206) and Metropolitan Theatre ($233,400) for the upcoming fiscal year.
