By Michael Eng | Managing Editor
Plant City commissioners approved Aug. 13, an interlocal agreement that would send the city’s solid waste to the Polk County landfill.
The agreement would save the city an estimated $129,000 annually, compared to its month-to-month contract with its current vendor, City Manager Greg Horwedel said. It carries a 10-year term, with the possibility of another 10-year extension.
Plant City’s rate would be $34.16 per ton, reflecting a 10% discount on Polk County’s gate rate of $37.95 per ton. Plant City currently collects 34,000 tons, annually. The agreement also includes Plant City paying $15,000 annually to assume the additional risk of disposing of the city’s waste. The new agreement will allow the city to keep its existing sanitation fee structure in place for the next fiscal year, Horwedel said.
The Polk County commission is scheduled to consider the item at its Aug. 21 meeting. If approved, the agreement would go into effect Oct. 1.
Plant City has been without a long-term solid-waste disposal contract since last fall, when its contract with its current vendor expired.
“This is the culmination of a number of months of hard work,” Horwedel said.
City officials now will begin the search for a third-party hauler to transport the waste.
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
• The commission is scheduled to consider an ordinance that would make changes to its alcoholic beverages ordinances at its next public hearing, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 27. The change would allow for he sale of alcohol at Plant City Stadium and the Randy L. Larson Four Plex during special events.
• The commission presented a plaque to Gary Sears for his service on the Hillsborough City-County Planning Commission.