A few weeks ago, KVOE News noted the contemplation local trucking companies have been facing when it comes to prices at the fuel pump, namely the potential introduction of a fuel surcharge to help maintain operations.
Monday morning, the City of Emporia became the first entity to issue such a charge to counteract the rising cost of fuel and to pay vendor surcharges for “waste transported outside Emporia.” The surcharge is not entirely new, as it is the result of an ordinance adopted by the city back in 2008 when the average national price rose to a high of $4.14 in July of that year.
The city would utilize the surcharge ordinance in 2009 and has not used it since then.
Emporia Public Works Director Brian Silcott says the city has been monitoring the rise in prices for some time now, saying they have chosen to hold off on passing the cost of fuel on to residents. However, he noted that with the estimated cost of each fueling for larger vehicles coming to right around $350 a day, on top of regular services costs, the city was no longer able to avoid this measure.
Silcott did say the surcharge will be only a temporary step until the situation stabilizes. That said, when asked if the city had an ideal number or metric which would lead to the end of the surcharge, he could not provide an accurate timeframe. However, he did tell KVOE News the city will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as needed as it continues to develop.
Residents who utilize city trash collection services will see the surcharge reflected in their monthly bills starting in October. The cost will vary from approximately $1.36 to $3 per month.
A separate landfill surcharge will range from 59 cents to $1.36 per 500 pounds and will only apply to sanitation services. You can view the full ordinance at Emporiaks.gov.
