Latrobe officials debate fee for garbage bag stickers; quarterly collection rate set to rise

Latrobe Council is considering a 2% increase in residential rates for household trash collection, but city officials are divided on whether to also raise the cost of stickers required for garbage bags.

Council is expected on Feb. 8 to vote on a revised schedule of various city fees, including the new garbage rates. Passing along a 2% increase built into Latrobe’s contract with hauler Republic Services, quarterly garbage fees for residents are set to rise from $66 to $67.32, for those who have their trash picked up in bags, and from $81 to $82.62, for those who use a larger “toter” container.

Council this week debated whether to also approve a slight price hike for separate stickers that are to be attached to garbage bags left at the curb for collection.

City Manager Michael Gray has noted Latrobe is switching suppliers of the stickers, which would be produced in sheets of 12 instead of 10. Gray has recommended selling the new sheets for $4.80 each, which would keep the price per sticker at 40 cents.

Councilman Ralph Jenko instead suggested increasing the price per sheet to $5, to avoid having to make change when selling them. That would set the price per sticker at a little more than 41.6 cents.

“It would be a convenience factor for the vendors handling this,” Jenko said of the sticker sales. “I don’t want our vendors to go dropping by the wayside because they don’t want to handle the coins.”

He suggested the sticker increase might be offset by adjusting the periodic garbage rate.

Mayor Rosie Wolford, who votes on council decisions, pointed out that the local Shop ‘n Save supermarket is the only non-city vendor of the stickers. They also can be purchased at city hall or at the city public works garage.

She said she favors keeping the sticker price at 40 cents unless it “becomes an issue” for vendor sales.

Gray agreed. “The garbage service fee is going up,” he said. “I’m just reluctant to put anything more on the citizens in Latrobe, especially this year.”

Latrobe property owners also face a new annual stormwater management fee of $90 per equivalent residential unit, payable by March 31. The fee is meant to help cover the city’s costs as it works to comply with a state mandate to reduce sediment flowing into local streams.