Sparwood is expected to make a decision on the future of its commercial garbage collection next week.
The District is accepting one last round of feedback from the business community, and multi-family buildings, before a vote Monday night.
Businesses can offer input on whether they would like the District to continue in-house collection or if they would rather contract their own company.
If the businesses want the in-house service to carry on, the District would have to purchase a new garbage truck as their current one is old and out-dated.
Staff have been running around trying to educate businesses on all of the potential costs after a previous notice in September lacked information and pushed back the initial vote.
Council passed a motion this week to move the RDEK costs of operating the transfer station over to general taxation.
This means the garbage component of residents’ water/sewer/garbage bill will go down and their July tax bill will go up.
Th District says the combined effect will be approximately the same cost if not less for most property owners.
Not only does this move also align Sparwood with neighbouring communities, but the District says it allows commercial users to compare the different garbage costs more accurately.
Council will take other factors into consideration before Monday’s decision, such as the need to focus resources on other services and priorities like water loss, infrastructure and beautification.
The District is also suggesting it may be more efficient for businesses to deal with companies who specialize in waste collection.
Council is set to make the decision at a Special Meeting 6:30 PM Monday December 11th.
