Little Elm makes commercial garbage rates more competitive
By LAURA CHILDRESS

Trash talk highlighted the Little Elm council's first meeting of the year Jan. 2.

Following a work session with Community Waste Disposal, which provides garbage and recycling pick-up for the town, the council amended its contract with CWD to make commercial rates more competitive with area municipalities.

Town Manager Ivan Langford noted that in enforcing the town's dumpster screening ordinance, staff had been finding businesses on the outer edges of town who were not using CWD, as required in the town's franchise agreement, because of the higher cost.

CWD officials confirmed that Little Elm's commercial rates were around 45 percent higher than other cities in the area. Residential customers, however, are paying around $1.57 less per month.

Greg Roemer, CWD president, noted that many cities shifted the burden of cost onto the commercial side of business to maintain low residential rates.

Mayor Frank Kastner said that with Little Elm actively seeking new businesses, it is important that the town's rates are competitive with other area municipalities.

To bring Little Elm's commercial rates in line with other area cities, staff recommended reducing bulk pick-up from twice a month to once a month on call and changing the recycling schedule from weekly to every other week. Residential rates will remain at $12.34 per month.

Kastner noted that with the town's new bulk recycling site at the service center, residents may drop off bulk items any time, reducing the need for pick-up by CWD.

As for concerns regarding the change in recycling service, Kastner noted that if residents call for a return to weekly recycling, the residential rate could be increased to accommodate this change.

In other business, the council:

* Approved the consent agenda, consisting of the minutes of the Dec. 18 precouncil, public hearings and regular council meeting; and interlocal agreements with Denton County for fire and ambulance services in designated portions of the unincorporated area.

* Consented to the establishment of a municipal utility district by Spiritas Ranch, as approved in a development agreement, on a 386.26-acre tract located in the town's extraterritorial jurisdiction.

* Awarded a contract to CWD for sludge cake hauling.

* Scheduled the second monthly council meeting on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m., with a work session tentatively slated Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m.