City recycling costs to increase

Recycling costs for Creston households will increase by 10 cents under a clause in the city’s contract with Waste Management that allows a pass-through of increase costs. The council members discussed the change during Tuesday’s regular Creston City Council Meeting via Zoom.

Although the increased cost for Waste Management will begin in January, Ammon Taylor, Waste Management representative, offered a three month extension of the current charge in a gesture of good faith, Mayor Gabe Carroll said.

The increase cost comes less than three months after the council approved a contract extension with Waste Management.

In a letter to the council, Taylor said the change was unexpected and explained Van’s Sanitation & Recycling, which collects Creston’s recycling after it is bailed at the loading facility, was raising its rates by $8 per ton.

Waste water treatment plant improvement project

The city council gave the greenlight to release the $616.39 in retainage funds for the completed waste water treatment facility improvement project in 31 days.

Libby Patton of Veenstra & Kimm told the council when it certifies completion of the project, the two-year maintenance bond begins. The maintenance bond covers 100% of the bid price for the improvements done to the facility.

The final cost of the project, including 19 change orders approved by the council, was $3,213,271.49. The council voted unanimously, with no discussion, to certify the completion of the project and approve the release of the retainage. Council Members Terry Freeman and Rich Madison were absent.

In other council business:

• a public hearing to amend the sewer use charges ordinance had no public comments for or against the project. The council voted to establish the first reading of the ordinance.

• public hearings were set for 6 p.m. Jan. 5 on the fireworks and urban chicken ordinances.

• an easement was granted for Southern Iowa Regional Water Association to install and maintain a waterline on city property at the airport after a public hearing with no comment from the public. The easement had already been approved by the city attorney and the Federal Aviation Administration.

• the transfer of the fixed-base operator contract at the Creston Municipal Airport from West Aviation to Nor-Wes was approved.

• a contract with Access Systems for three copiers for $328.86 per month, which covers parts, labor, toner, training and maintenance, for 60 months was approved unanimously with no discussion.

• a firm fuel agreement with Agriland for calendar year 2021 was approved unanimously.