WELLS — An increase in bag roll prices and a slight change in hours of operation are coming to the Wells transfer station.
Town officials implemented the changes during the last Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection had reviewed operations at the transfer station and suggested the area needed “more housekeeping,” said Town Manager Jon Carter.
“In order to do that the board thought there needed to be more time given to the employees to cleanup at the end of the day,” Carter said.
Currently, hours of operation at the transfer station are Tuesday through Saturday; from 8 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. Residents will see open hours change to 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The station will remain closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Additionally, residents should expect the price of bag rolls to increase by 50 cents.
“The enterprise fund that was setup for the transfer station, which represents an off-budget enterprise fund that pays for itself, is not working as we’d planned,” Carter said during the selectmen’s meeting. “Although it’s getting much better, and were seeing much more revenues, it’s still not paying for the salaries and benefits of our employees when you look over the three years of operations.”
The town currently uses a pay-as-you-throw system where bags are purchased at retail stores in town. Rolls come with five bags per roll, and in three different sizes, 15-gallon, 33-gallon, and 45-gallon.
Fifteen-gallon bags would jump from $7.50 to $8, 33-gallon from $10 to $10.50, and 45-gallon from $20 to $20.50.
Carter said the 50 cent increase is expected to bring in an additional $9,000.
Both the change in hours of operation and increase in bag roll prices will be implemented on Oct. 10.
For the most part, selectmen agreed with the need for the adjustments in bag fees, but voiced a need to inform residents of the change with signs.
“Right now I know folks pull up with exact change. It’s not a big change and I support the change but we should give folks a fair warning,” said Selectman John Howarth.
The board voted in favor of both changes 3-0-1, with chairman Karl Ekstedt abstaining.
— Staff Writer Ryder Schumacher can be reached at 282-1535, or via email at rschumacher@journaltribune.com.
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