HANNIBAL | Hannibal Board of Public Works customers will notice a slight reduction in their upcoming bills since the utility has not been collecting the city's monthly $1.90 recycling fee as of May 1.According to Hannibal's recycling ordinance the fee must be re-approved every three years. It was to have been on the April ballot, but that vote was postponed until June as a COVID-19 virus precaution.
The delay in voting on the recycling ordinance left the HBPW Board with a decision to make regarding collection of the recycling fee.
“We could take the position that because of the governor's order (postponing the April election) that legally extends everything and we can just continue on as we have before,” said City Attorney James Lemon during the April meeting of the HBPW Board. “The problem with that is you perhaps encourage a challenge. The other thing that would be very problematic is if it (recycling ordinance) is not approved by a vote of the people (in June) then you have an issue with even more to challenge.”
After meeting with HBPW General Manager Ken Reasoner and City Manager Lisa Peck, Lemon recommended what he called a “safer option” which would see the HBPW “terminate collection of that fee until such time as the people have an opportunity to vote on it.”
Factoring in the HBPW Board's decision to stop collection of the fee is the fact that 2 Rivers Industries, Inc., the contract or overseeing Hannibal's recycling program, has not been providing the service since late March when it suspended operations in an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Lemon was asked about the likelihood of the recycling ordinance being approved for another three years.
“I have absolutely no idea. I have heard no buzz on the street,” he said. “I think by and large the people seem satisfied with the concept of having recycling available. Certainly the way the ordinance is drafted it gives a preference to the bid of a contractor who actually handles the recycling. It also gives a preference to people who have hiring opportunities for people with special needs. That is another benefit to the community.”
Voters have not always supported the local recycling program. In April, 2009, voters defeated by just 13 votes - 565-552 - a proposal that would have seen a fee of up to $1 added to the monthly residential utility bills to pay for the program.
In August, 2009, voters had a change of heart and approved paying a $0.70 monthly fee to support the recycling program. The proposal passed by a margin of 816-444.
With the Northeast Missouri Sheltered Workshop struggling financially, voters approved by a 683-500 margin increasing the recycling fee by $1.20 in November, 2013, to $1.90. The fee increase took effect in January, 2014.