City raises dump fees
FROM STAFF REPORTS Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.

The City Council has authorized changes in the minimum rates charged at the Gulf Breeze Transfer Station effective Nov. 1. On that date, the minimum charge for residents who live within Gulf Breeze rose to $8 per visit; Santa Rosa county residents are now charged a minimum $16 per load, and landscapers, handymen and others from outside the county are now charged a $36 minimum. The same rates are also charged for loads using the chipper.

Prior to the 2004-2005 hurricane season, the transfer station was limited to the exclusive use of city residents. After Hurricane Ivan, at the request of the Santa Rosa County Commissioners, the city council opened the facility to everyone to assist in hurricane recovery. This resulted in the number of loads being taken from the transfer station to the landfill jumping from about 18 per month in 2003 to 46 loads per month more recently. During this period the county landfill raised its rates by 22 percent.

City staff currently estimate that it costs the city an average of $4 per cubic yard to haul and dispose of transfer station waste, before accounting for any labor or equipment repair costs of the site.

"The transfer station operation is not intended to be profitable," said Shane Carmichael, Director of Code Enforcement,. "But, neither is it intended to be a money loser either. We want to be sure that fees to use the waste transfer station cover the costs of the operation. City residents contribute to those costs already through their garbage bills, so it makes sense to charge them less."

More information on the new rates is available on the City's website: www.cityofgulfbreeze. com. The entrance to the transfer station is located on the south side of the corner of South Sunset and Shoreline Drive and is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm or until the containers are full.