Latrobe eyes higher fees at waste transfer station, end of downtown water line work

People soon could pay more to dump municipal waste at Latrobe’s solid waste transfer station.

Under a proposed revision to the rate structure, the minimum charge for municipal waste dumped at the station along Mission Road would jump from $12.50 to $14 for 200 pounds or less. The per-ton rate would increase from $107 to $110.30, with a landfill dumping surcharge of $4 per ton.

The new rates are among planned fee hikes at the site that city council agreed to advertise for consideration at its Feb. 10 voting session.

The fee hike applies to waste brought separately to the transfer station. It doesn’t affect ongoing garbage collection rates for city residents.

Other proposed new disposal fees at the station include $3 per car tire, $4 if the rim is included — a $1 increase for each. Fees for 16-inch light truck tires are set to increase by $2 — to $5 each, $6 with a rim. There would be a $12 fee for a heavy truck tire measuring 20 inches or more.

The city would charge $35 for an appliance with Freon that must be removed, an increase of $2 per item.

“We haven’t amended the rates for about two years,” said city Solicitor Zachary Kansler. “This increase is to cover our costs and to keep us in line with local commercial entities that are taking in these items.”

Water line work almost complete

Latrobe Municipal Authority’s ongoing replacement of older water lines on several major downtown streets is projected to be complete by April, engineering consultant Mark Gera told council Monday. Contractor Jet Jack is giving priority to intersections where PennDOT is slated to begin installing upgraded traffic signals and handicapped-accessible curb ramps as early as March, he said, noting, “We want out of there before PennDOT gets in.”

Line replacements on Depot Street are complete, but work remains on portions of Main Street between Jefferson and Alexandria streets. The project also is addressing old lines running beneath Ligonier Street between Holy Family Church and the railroad underpass.

The authority was awarded a $2.7 million, low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to help finance the line replacements.

“It’s a temporary inconvenience for a permanent improvement,” Councilman Jim Kelley said of the resulting street excavations.

As work has proceeded, the authority and city have been updating mapping of utility locations under the streets, according to city public works Director Scott Wajdic. No entity has claimed ownership of a fiber-optic conduit uncovered parallel to sections of Ligonier and Main, he said.