New Philadelphia considering trash rate increase, land sale to restaurant
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (February 24, 2022) – City officials are considering raising trash rates by $1.25 a month.
Service Director Ron McAbier says the current rate – $14.25 – is lower than most cities in the area and hasn’t been raised for seven years.
“Sanitation dump fees at Kimble are up seven percent this year,” McAbier said. “Wages over that last seven years are up 17 percent. So things keep rising. As we all know, fuel prices – they’re up 84 percent this year.”
At a recent New Philadelphia Council committee meeting, Councilman Kelly Ricklic questioned if the timing is right for an increase, suggesting the sanitation department could rely on its carryover funds of around $700,000.
“I know a lot of people are struggling right now, and I’m worried about the economy,” Ricklic said. “I understand we run an enterprise fund. We have to pay those bills, we need to pay our employees and we want to keep our sanitation department.”
McAbier says Council members could discuss the proposal again at an upcoming committee meeting.
Raising Cane’s looking to buy city-owned property
A growing fast food chicken chain is eying some city-owned land near Walmart in New Philadelphia for a restaurant.
McAbier says Raising Cane’s can make a bid to buy the property if City Council agrees to put it on the auction block in a few weeks. Bidding would start at $150,000 and anyone could make a bid on the land.
It’s three-quarters of an acre on Blue Bell Drive on the Walmart side between the supercenter and the corner at East High. McAbier says the city will continue to own the corner property.
He says Raising Cane officials are working with Walmart officials to allow access from their parking lot.
New Philadelphia City Council next meets Monday.