Possible limb yard fee schedule

Discussion has begun about the possibility of charging everyone taking yard waste, limbs and logs to the limb pile at the treatment plant.

City Administrator Carl Francis reported this to the City Council for the Oct. 13, 2025, meeting:

For the past couple years, the compost yard has been over stocked with limb grindings and mulch. We are working to renew some purchase agreements for the soil amendment but have not been successful. The yard continues to grow even after we implemented the “No Commercial Loads” allowed. The cost of repairs on the grinder and other equipment continue to rise along with our labor costs. Staff have looked at several options regarding how to move forward but still preserve a location which residents can dispose of their yard waste. This attached fee schedule is what staff has proposed for dumping limbs and yard waste at the plant and would apply to both residents and non-residents, Staff felt it would be difficult to enforce if otherwise. This would be accomplished with credit card transactions set up at the gate to the yard. No cash would be accepted.

Staff realize this will not come close to equipment replacement costs in the future, but it could help with current fuel and maintenance costs. We are presenting this only for discussion at this time. Please feel free to contact staff if you have questions concerns or other ideas.

Currently the Compost program costs the city approximately $150,000 per year to operate.