Irmo Council Approves Trash Fee Increase

Irmo Town Council members approved increasing the residential trash collection fee by $40 effective Jan. 1. 

The fee per household will be $180 per year, up from the current rate of $140.

During the public participation portion of the meeting, a resident spoke out against raising the collection fee.

The resident, who said he was retired and living on a fixed income, said the increase was too much for the residents who were also on a fixed income.

He said council should consider that when voting since at least 50 percent of the town's residents are on a fixed income. 

After hearing from the resident, council member Kathy Condom suggested council look at a smaller increase of $20 in order to not make a big impact on residents.

The fee increase, which passed with a 4-1 vote, is the first trash collection fee raise in 10 years, town officials said. 

Condom voted against the motion.

Officials say the town has absorbed trash collection increases for the last 10 years instead of passing it on to residents. The higher fuel and disposal costs have contributed to a more than . 

The flat rate is used to have a stablized fee for the next 8 to 10 years instead of having an increase every year, officials say. 

In other business, the following actions were taken during the regular meeting: 

• Council approved third and final reading of ordinance 12-06 to amend the town code, Chapter 2 Section 2-64 to add the amendments to the agenda and executive session items back on council's agenda.
• Council approved third and final reading of ordinance 12-08 to amend the town code, Chapter 2 Division 3 and Division 4 concerning the municipal clerk and town attorney. Council approved changing the language to replace "inauguration meeting" with "general election." 
• Council approved third and final reading of ordinance 12-09, amending the town code, Chapter 2 Section 2-35 concerning the mayor pro tem to the word "refusal."
• Approval was given to establish a Capital Project Fund to allocate $1 million for development of the new town park. The money was originally devoted to the Sease Road paving project with Richland County. Council member Harvey Hoots said that project was stonewalled. Hoots said most of the funding for the new town park will come from grants and not all of the allocated money. Town officials say the money is there in case of a matching requirement for grants. 
• A discussion was held concerning council members salaries and expense accounts. No action was taken.
• Council approved a $10,000 contract with the Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce for providing welcome center services. Mayor Hardy King recused himself from voting because he is a member of the Irmo Chamber. 
• With a 4-1 vote, council approved a $15,960 contract with Dennis Corporation for engineering services for Phase I of the new town park project.  Phase I includes surveying property and acquiring permits. 
• Council discussed charging a $500 fee for gaming machines (sweepstakes). No action was taken. 
• Council approved a contract extension with Advanced Disposal.