Lower Trash Rates Take Effect

— Residents will see their trash bills go down by a couple of dollars next month as new rates finally go into effect after the city bid its contract for the first time in 40 years.

At A Glance

Meet, Greet

Leah Williams, elected Nov. 6 to the City Council, will host two meet and greet events with constituents over the weekend. Williams will talk with residents from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Zary’s Acropolis, 905 N.W. 13th St., and from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Bentonville Bowling Center, 902 N.W. 14th St.

Source: Staff Report

City Council members approved the lower rates Tuesday after awarding the contract to Allied Waste in July. Gary Wilson, billing and collections manager, said customers could see lower bills in their next cycle. The lower rates will affect bills due after Dec. 7.

Residents will pay $10.99 for residential waste and recycling and $5.50 for an additional cart. Customers previously paid $13.22 per month as a base rate. The new total includes a 10 percent markup on Waste Management’s bid that will cover city administrative costs such billing and unpaid final bills. Wilson said the charges will help the billing department maintain its funding level.

Commercial customers will pay a base rate of $13.75 and $5.50 for an additional cart. Optional yard waste service is $8 and will be billed directly by Allied Waste.

The City Council also approved the 2013 Community Development Block Grant plan. The city will request $180,000 in federal money to cover administrative costs for a community programs coordinator, trail and sidewalk enhancements and payouts to seven nonprofit groups.

The city plans to extend the Downtown Trail beginning east of the Bentonville Public Library and connecting with the Town Branch Trail along Southeast Fifth Street. The trail is expected to be finished early next year.

Enhancements to the trail include landscaping, benches, signs, water fountains and safety features, according to the agenda. The project is anticipated to cost $50,000.

The city will dedicate $58,500 to build missing sidewalk connections, replace unsafe sidewalks and build wheelchair ramps.

Money will be allocated to seven sub-recipient programs:

-Boys & Girls Club of Benton County, $4,985

-ASA of Northwest Arkansas, $3,925

-Havenwood Transitional Housing Facility, $5,167

-Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center, $5,000

-Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter, $3,621

-Salvation Army Emergency Shelter, $4,302.

The Bentonville Airport will begin renting its runway closure lights after the council approved a lease agreement. The airport owns two lighted “X” signs used to denote a runway is closed.

Mike Bender, Public Works director, said the signs are difficult to obtain. The Arkansas Airport Operators Association has two of the signs, but they are frequently on lease, Bender said.

The new agreement will allow Bentonville to make money off the signs when they aren’t in use by the airport, as well as ensure they are working properly in the downtime.

The council discussed a new policy for electrical contractors to follow when working in the city. The policy was tabled to give aldermen more time to consider the policy.

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