Garbarge, electric rates to increase with new year

HARTINGTON — Rates are going up for two key services in Hartington.

The Hartington City Council Monday was informed about a proposed rate increase of $2 per ton by L.P. Gill and a two percent increase from NPPD.

L.P. Gill operates the refuse facility near Jackson where the city takes its trash. The city is currently paying $57 per ton to dump its trash. The new rate of $59 per ton will take eect Jan. 1. City o$cials anticipate this rate increase could cost the city as much as $700 a month.

NPPD's rate increase will also take aect at the beginning of the year. Also Monday, the Council agreed to take out a 5.5 percent, five-year loan from the Bank of Hartington to pay for a new garbage truck they are purchasing from Nebraska Truck Center Inc.

The truck itself is costing $119,000, but the outfitting of the truck will cost another $119,000.

Besides the tipping fee increase, increased costs for a new truck, wages and insurance have also gone up, Mayor Mark Becker said.

These added expenses for collecting garbage are forcing the city to take a look at the rate it charges for garbage service, Becker said.

“We’re going to have to put a pencil to it,” he said.

In other action, the Council approved a new city disturbingthe- peace ordinance concerning animal noise.

The Council has been receiving complaints about barking dogs, but upon researching the issue, it discovered no such ordinance now exists.

The Council also agreed Monday to appoint Leah Wiedenfeld to the Hartington City Library Board.