Sanitation rates increase in Mtn. View

The City of Mountain View has three amended ordinances in the books following the regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen on Aug. 9. Mayor John Krasuski called the meeting to order with a quorum present. Alderman Murray Anderson was absent, but Aldermen Punkie Stevenson, Lindell Vandevort, and Laura Wagner were there to vote.

Taking action on previous discussions to increase sanitation rates, Ordinance 1718 was read twice, and ultimately passed by unanimous vote. Increased fuel prices and tipping fees have necessitated the increase, according to the draft minutes of the meeting. Sanitation rates are now:

-City customer bag rate: $20 for three (3) bags per week. Each additional bag is $1

-Rural customer bag rate: $1.50 per bag

-Residential customers will receive one (1) free roll of recycling bags per month. Additional rolls may be purchased for $3

-Rural customers may purchase rolls of recycling bags for $5 per roll

-Dumpster rates are $10 per cubic yard for city customers. For rural dumpster customers, the rate is $15 per cubic yard. 

Also picking up a thread from a previous meeting, the aldermen unanimously passed an ordinance amending the city codes for liquor licenses. Temporary liquor licensing is now legal on an event-by-event basis. 

In new business, the third amended ordinance from this meeting adds two additional members to the number required for the city’s planning and zoning board. According to City Attorney Deedra Nicholson, state guidelines changed and now require a minimum of seven members. The city will offer an application process to fill the seats on the planning and zoning board. 

During open session, the aldermen also: 

-Amended the golf cart lease agreement.

-Authorized the city attorney to contact US Cellular to propose an alternate location for their Cran 09 tower location. 

-Accepted the low bid for a furnace for the sanitation department in the amount of $22,074 from DSI.

A closed session followed, beginning at 6:55 p.m. Open session resumed at 9:45 p.m. The minutes of the meeting record the following votes and motions from the closed session, all passed unanimously:

-The city attorney will prepare a contract between the city and Doug Woolsey for an electric easement. The mayor is authorized to sign it. 

-The city attorney will be provided with insurance benefits in lieu of a pay raise. 

-The city’s contract with Kiowa Utility Company on Phase 3 is to be dissolved. 

-Consultant fees from the consent agenda will be paid as presented.