Quinte Waste Solutions committee vice-chair Barry Turpin speaks to garbage reduction in the County at Shire Hall on February 11, 2016. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
Prince Edward County’s waste management bill has come in at $548,895 slightly under the $550,000 budgeted for in 2016.
In October 2015, municipalities across Quinte agreed to a five per cent budget increase over the previous year to enable Quinte Waste Solutions to bring the net levy into line with actual market costs for contractor services.
At its meeting Thursday, the committee of the whole was presented with the QWS budget that will be carried over to council for approval.
QWS vice chair Barry Turpin says there was a considerable $85,000 in savings in the recycling budget with Quinte residents returning glass bottles to the beer and liqour stores.
“We have to pay to get rid of glass so the less recycled material that comes in is much better for us,” he said.
Turpin said there is a real push for the public to recycle cans. He pointed to the many services groups within the County that are pleased to take cans offering big savings in waste reduction.
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The County’s committee of the whole has carried a motion that would see a new $250 auxiliary power fee at the Prince Edward Community Centre in Picton.
Ameliasburgh ward councillor Roy Pennell questioned the fee suggesting it would persuade organizers to host their events in other municipalities like Belleville and Quinte West instead resulting in the County losing revenue.
Councillor Kevin Gale said they don’t have the same tax base as other municipalities pointing to the County’s old town halls that no one wants to “pull the trigger on” so the maintenance of those buildings is falling on the tax payers.
Commissioner of Corporate Services and Finance Susan Turnbull explained it is an attempt to offset the cost of power when there are large events.
“There is only one weekend in the summer where the Crystal Palace isn’t booked,” she said. “When we have big events like the cheese festival, tax payers are paying for electricity. It’s only for some renters not your average wedding.”
A similar fee is already applicable at the Essroc Arena in Wellington.
