County tightens reins on
refunds

By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

It’s official.

Refunds or releases for Columbus County solid waste fees will not be given for payments dated beyond a five-year period.

The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 4 to amend the county solid waste ordinance.

The previous rules did not specify a time period in which refunds would be given.

With proof, refunds will be given for up to five years to owners of vacant structures or businesses using commercial haulers.

It appears under other wording releases may be given for periods of up to two years without such guidelines being met.

“If neither of the above stated qualifications can be satisfied, a release or refund of user fee will be granted for only two (2) years,” the new language reads in part.

“In the event property is double listed, the Refund or Release of user fees will be determined by the number of years said property was double listed,” the ordinance reads. “All refunds and releases will be approved by the Solid Waste Analyst.”
The vote comes months after the board approved a refund to a local golf course for payments made for 10 years on the service the facility never used. The business contracts with a commercial hauler.

A subsequent request for a refund of user fees again dating back more than five years, spurred the board to look into tightening up the regulations.

The fiscal 2007-2008 budget approved in June of this year estimates $12,000 in solid waste refunds and $140,000 in releases.

The total solid waste fund revenue is estimated at nearly $6.7 million.

About $4.3 million comes from landfill user fees and $2.5 million in tipping fees billed to customers.

Waste Managements contract totals $5.8 million plus a $465,000 fuel surcharge.

Columbus County produced more than 45,000 tons of garbage in 2005-2006, according to state reports. About half came through a transfer station at the closed New Hope landfill before being hauled a regional landfill in Sampson County. The rest went directly to the landfill.