Superior City Council Votes Down $9.75 Trash Fee

Despite Mayor Hagen's Recommendation, Council Votes Against Ordinace

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Tuesday night, in a six to five vote, Superior City Councilors voted down an ordinance proposing city residents pay a first–ever, monthly fee to have their trash picked up.

The fee would have been $9.75 per household, effective January.

Mayor Bruce Hagen was in favor of the fee, saying it’s necessary in an effort to fix a serious, long–time problem the city has faced, as the landfill on Moccasin Mike Road is no longer bringing in enough money to operate.

Hagen explained with more and more people recycling, there has been a reduction in tonnage at the landfill, which has, in turn, reduced revenue.

That being said, the basic cost of maintenance has remained the same, if not increased in recent years.

Right now, the landfill costs about $6.3 million each year to maintain, and Hagen says not implementing this fee will result in reductions in the city’s core services – police, fire, and public works.

“It’s going to overtake the police department within one year, maybe two years. The police department in any city is the highest budget in any municipality, and that’s about $6.5 million,” Mayor Hagen explained.

Many residents, however, were upset by the idea of the fee, saying the money should come from other places.

“It’s the unlimited taxpayer tree, and I’m sick of it,” said Superior Resident David O’Neill. “These fees are killing us. People can’t afford it in Superior. There’s alternative ways to do this. We have five or six Kwik Trips coming into this community – how much are they going to add to the tax base? A ton.”

Last November the city of Superior added a $3.50 monthly recycling fee, which generates $422,000 annually.

At the end of 2022, the landfill will be capped and closed, so it has about 7 1/2 years left of operation.