South Union approves trash collection contract with gas surcharge
The South Union Township supervisors approved a garbage collection contract that would add a 6 cent fuel fee to monthly customer bills Monday.
The fuel fee, which can fluctuate, is part of a proposed five-year intergovernmental agreement between South Union and North Union townships, and Advanced Disposal.
Supervisors said fuel fee will be charged in addition to the $9.41 monthly collection fee, which will remain the same.
“It’s mandatory. There’s no way around it,” Supervisor Robert Schiffbauer said about the fuel fee.
The fee is based on the average monthly price of diesel reported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration and could increase or decreased every month, according to Advanced Disposal.
Despite the fuel fee, the overall collection price remains low, Schiffbauer said.
He said contract negotiations with Advanced Disposal had taken place over the last couple months.
Supervisor Rich Vernon said residential customers can put up to 10 bags of garbage out for pick up.
The North Union Township supervisors are going to consider the agreement at their meeting today, supervisors said.
An unrelated agreement with the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) was approved.
The five-year “Agility” agreement calls for the township to replace a small storm drain and pipe on Bailey Avenue, a state owned road, near the Uniontown Country Club with a larger drain and pipe in exchange for PennDOT painting street lines on about two miles of township road, Schiffbauer said.
He said the drain frequently clogs during rain storms and creates a deep puddle around a bend in the road.
A contract for street resurfacing was not awarded because bids were higher than expected.
The bids were $130,000 from A.C. Moyer Co. Inc. of Lemont Furnace and $133,035 from El Grande Industries of Monessen. Moyer’s bid was based on $88.80 per ton of paving material and El Grande’s unit price was $90.50.
“Very high,” Vernon said.
Last year, the township paid a unit price of $71.10, he said.
The supervisors tabled action on the bids.
In other business, Schiffbauer said he was disappointed that the Laurel Highlands School Board did not approve a proposed tax incremental financing plan that would have provided funding to help Cedarwood Development of Ohio develop a retail complex in the Fayette Business Park.
The proposal needed the approval of the board, supervisors and the Fayette County Commissioners.
The supervisors and the commissioners approved the agreement.