Nephi is looking for a new operator for its landfill.
The Juab County Council of Governments met to discuss the issue this past week and came to a few decisions. One is that the Juab Rural Development Agency would be the perfect agency to administer the landfill. The landfill is used by residents throughout the county.Randy McKnight, Nephi administrator, Randy Freston, former county administrator, and David Leavitt, county attorney, were requested by the council to consider the organization to best serve the needs of the landfill operation, now that it has become an east Juab-used facility.
"We determined there was not need to form another agency," said McKnight. The agency was formed when the three east Juab communities - Levan, Mona and Nephi - entered the natural gas business. "The language is broad enough to allow us to make the operation of the landfill part of the duties of the agency," said McKnight.
It would be better, he said, if the group, rather than multiply the complexity of the number of organizations the elected officials of the county belonged to, would simplify. "The operation of the gas system has really smoothed out," said McKnight, "and the operation of the landfill could be added easily."
Leavitt said another thing needing a decision was what the share would be, per community, for operating costs of the landfill.
"Now that the other landfills are closed - both Mona and Levan -then all are using the Nephi city landfill," said McKnight. Freston, McKnight and Leavitt had discussed the sharing of costs.
"It has been Nephi City Council's recommendation," said Robert Steele, Nephi Mayor, "that the fees be paid for on an equal per household user fee," said Steele. "The user fees should pay the costs."
The group determined it would be fair to charge each household a flat $5-per-month landfill use fee. However, the charge would depend on ratification by each City Council.
McKnight said the group also needed to discuss a gate fee and collections. "Should those who use the facility more, pay more?" he asked.
A budget needs to be set up by the group, as well. The number of days the facility will be open and the hours it will be open on those days also needs to be determined.
The group will need to decide what to charge for bulky waste. However, the Levan Council has learned it may be able to get a permit for a bulky waste area. If that is the case, then, perhaps, Mona will be able to obtain one also.
The chairman would be determined by the agency. "Many of these questions can be determined by the agency," said Kevin Young, Mona mayor.
The group will meet and develop answers to the questions still needing an answer. Meanwhile, each city will begin paying its share of landfill operation on a per-household basis.
"The costs from the beginning of September are the costs of the various entities using the landfill," said McKnight.