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<br /> <br />Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Did you know that the average household <br />produces about one ton of trash per year? <br />Everything that you put in your trash cart is <br />delivered to the Recycling & Energy Center (R&E <br />Center) in Newport, MN, where it is processed to <br />recover metals for recycling and make a <br />renewable fuel used to generate electricity. By <br />processing trash at the R&E Center, and through <br />recycling, yard waste, food waste, and household <br />hazardous waste collection programs, over 90% of <br />waste in Ramsey and Washington counties is <br />diverted from landfills. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />In 2020, the R&E Center will be ending a subsidy <br />and adjusting its rates. For the average <br />household, this may equate to an increase of <br />about $1.00-1.25 per month on your garbage <br />bill. The disposal cost (the fee haulers pay to <br />deliver trash to the R&E Center) is approximately <br />1/3 of the total cost of garbage service (other costs <br />include insurance, labor, fuel, trucks, etc.). If your <br />bill is increasing by more than $1.25 per month, <br />this is likely due to other business factors for your <br />hauler. <br /> <br />The fees paid by haulers to drop off garbage at a <br />processing center are called “tipping” fees. In <br />2019, this fee was $79 per ton at the R&E Center. <br />This fee will rise to $82 per ton in 2020 and $84 <br />per ton in 2021. Haulers are allowed to pass these <br />increased costs onto customers. Previously, <br />haulers could go to private landfills. Now all <br />garbage in Washington and Ramsey Counties, <br />must go the R&E Center. <br /> <br />Funds that previously subsidized waste <br />management will be used to help residents, <br />businesses, and the county better manage <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Talking Trash: Increases in Fees Coming in 2020 <br /> <br /> <br />waste, providing quality public service <br />and protecting health and environment for <br />current and future generations. <br /> <br />More Information <br />Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy <br />www.morevaluelesstrash.com/tipfees-rebates <br /> <br />Golf Cart Ordinance <br /> (continued from page 1) <br />Gem Lake’s new ordinance allows for use of golf <br />carts only on Scheueneman Road, Haven and <br />Tessier (all city roads) by a licensed driver, who <br />has obtained a city permit to operate the golf <br />cart. There are other conditions placed on their <br />use, such as the fact that the cart must have <br />lights, turn signals, and must be operated in safe <br />driving conditions for a golf cart. For more <br />information contact Gloria Tessier at Heritage <br />Hall. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />2020 Fee Schedule Approved <br /> <br />Next year’s City of Gem Lake Fee Schedule was <br />approved at the November 19 City Council <br />Meeting. This schedule covers permits and other <br />fees collected by the city for things like signage, <br />roofing and other types of construction. The <br />2020 schedule includes only minor changes <br />from the year before. For instance, a $30 fee <br />was added for the use of golf carts. Also, the <br />contractor licensing term was changed from a <br />calendar year license to one that covers a rolling <br />12-month period. Lastly, the roofing permit <br />schedule was changed to a flat fee of $125, <br />rather than one based on job cost. A copy of the <br />fee schedule is available at Heritage Hall. <br /> <br />