BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENBSURG – Hoping to make ends meet and reduce the burden on Ogdensburg’s water and sewer treatment users, the councilors agreed to charge 10 cents per gallon for those bringing waste to the city.

A proposed resolution brought forward by staff would have charged 5 cents per gallon, but after some discussion Nov. 14, the city decided to charge 10 cents per gallon instead.

Deputy Mayor Steven Fisher said that he believed 5 cents after seeing Malone gets 10 cents per gallon. Staff told the council the 5-cent pricing was intended to be competitive with Watertown, which charges 5 cents and Plattsburgh, which charges 8 cents.

A massive upgrade to the city’s wastewater treatment plan forced the city to borrow more than $30 million and is causing a 25 percent hike in the city’s sewer fees. That project was intended to be supplemented through using the city’s extra capacity to accept waste.

That’s on top of a $3.5 million gap in the city’s budget.

Councilor John Rishe agreed that the price should be higher and suggested that 10 cents or perhaps even more could be charged reasonably given the price of fuel and distance from other municipalities that are able to accept waste.

Among municipalities expected to take advantage of the capacity is the Village of Heuvelton which is home to the Losurdo Cheese plant.

Councilor Dan Skamperle questioned if the city might lose out on business by setting the rate at 10 cents but joined the council in a unanimous vote that set the 10-set rate.