An Augusta committee will consider charging a “usage fee” to waste haulers that bring out-of-county waste to Augusta’s landfill.
The proposal on Tuesday’s Engineering Services Committee agenda is from Mayor Garnett Johnson, who has been critical of the rates the city charges itself versus other entities.
Augusta advertises current tipping fees ranging from $30.30 to $40.30 per ton, depending on the number of tons per month, plus state and environmental fees.
In a 2021 rate study performed under former Administrator Odie Donald, consultants determined few haulers – other than the city’s own – paid the then-posted amounts. Large haulers and municipal customers which made up nearly 60% of landfill tonnage received discounts of $8 to $10 per ton.
Hurricane Helene repairs and memorial
Johnson has also asked the Administrative Services committee to approve a memorial display at Hero’s Overlook to honor the seven Augusta lives lost during Hurricane Helene.
In another Helene-related item, Engineering will vote on entering a $394,000 contract with Schnabel Engineering, LLC, to repair canal embankments damaged by the hurricane. The storm toppled trees, exposing root balls and creating holes and voids along the banks.
The Utilities Department’s plans call for removing trees and stumps, preserving select trees, and addressing about 200 identified animal burrows. The project covers 5.3 to 5.5 miles of canal embankments, from the headgates in Martinez downstream to the Eve Street bridge.
Since Helene struck on Sept. 27, 2024, about 3.5 miles of the canal towpath between the headgates and raw water pumping station have remained closed. Because the canal hydropower project is under review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC representatives will also review the work.
In other action:
The committee meetings begin at 1 p.m. or at the conclusion of the commission’s 11 a.m. standing called legal session. Other items going for committee approval Tuesday include:
- Approving a $1.15 million change order for Waterfront Property Services, LLC, doing business as Gator Dredging. The order adds removal of sediments from the Turknett Spring basin, which receives backwash discharge from the Highland Water Treatment Plant. The overall dredging project now totals $10.2 million. The original contract covered dredging at Lake Olmstead and Warren Lake.
- Granting temporary exceptions from licensure requirements and permission to assist homeowners with permitting to Mennonite Disaster Service. The volunteer group is assisting homeowners in response to Hurricane Helene.
- Emergency purchases of HVAC equipment for Julian Smith Casino for $225,000 and a fleet shop roof for $79,861.
