Leader Staff Report
KNOX — It’s pretty likely that residents will soon be paying more to have their garbage hauled away.
The Knox City Council discussed garbage rates at the July 24 meeting.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston told the council that the garbage rates all residents pay have not been raised to accommodate increased fees from Waste Management, the hauler.
Under the overall service contract with Waste Management, the garbage fund will be depleted by September. After that, the City would need to pay $8,000 to $10,000 from the General Fund each month from September to December to cover that cost.

Houston said the city cannot afford that shortfall, and the council will need to soon decide on a rate increase for the residents to offset this shortfall.
The City offers garbage service to 1,260 households. Less than half of the residents utilize the curb-side recycling program.
On a brighter note, Houston informed the City Council that he will be refunding $3,419 to those who have paid an inflated water and sewer tap fee that was not officially advertised to be charged.
According to Houston, the council approved a rate hike for the water rates and properly advertised those, but did not advertise a rate hike for water tap fees. People who have gotten water tap fees were charged for that clerical error and will be reimbursed the over-charges.
The Water Department is planning to look into actual costs of running the plant and compare that to current costs to see if the city is covering expenses. The council should receive that information soon.
In a related matter, the council approved the hiring of Umbaugh and Associates to perform a rate study for the wastewater and storm water upgrade project. The study will include information on the rates and a 5-year plan for the wastewater and storm water treatment facility.