Newberry City Commission raises solid waste collection rates, creates historical society, discusses upcoming City election

BY DAVID LIGHTMAN
NEWBERRY, Fla. – At their February 12 Regular Meeting, the Newberry City Commission raised solid waste collection rates for residential and non-residential customers, voted to create the Newberry Historical Association, and discussed the upcoming City election on April 9, which includes City Commission Seats 1, 2, and 3. Commissioners also voted to proceed with a study to decide how to fairly charge individual customers for stormwater service.
Stormwater assessments
Assistant City Manager Dallas Lee asked the Commission for direction on next steps in establishing a Stormwater Assessment program. Following a presentation in December, the Commission had asked staff to bring back more information, so Lee explained, “The next step would be hiring a consultant to draft the program, do the assessment, come up with the proposed fees. It would not implement the program. It would just be authorizing us to go forward with the consultant report so that you guys had the information at a later date to make that decision, if you wanted to implement the assessment fee.” The fee would only be assessed in Newberry’s CRA area.
Staff said that because the engineering portion of the study is still underway, it is not known how many retention ponds will be required, and other cost factors remain unknown. But proportionate costs can be established, and the actual numbers can be plugged in later. Lee explained that the cost of the engineering study was $60,000, and this study will cost an additional $30,000.
Lee said billing for stormwater assessments through annual property tax bills is an option, but he preferred monthly billing on utility bills: “Instead of a resident having to pay the whole bill up front, once a year, it’s split out amongst 12 months.” He also noted that it would be easier for the City to bill this way since they would be on their own timeline instead of the tax collector’s. Commissioner Tim Marden added that the County charges a 2.5% fee to collect taxes, if they were to go that route.
Marden asked, “How do they figure out how to pay for it when they don’t know how much they’re paying… If the engineering study says we need five basins, that’s a lot more expensive than if we only need two basins.”
Lee explained, “They’re going to determine how much each parcel has in equivalent stormwater units first. So they’ll know each parcel in the downtown area, how much stormwater they’re using, and then at the very end, they can just plug in, ‘Okay, well, it’s going to cost $10 million for all these stormwaters.’ And so you just divide that amongst all the stormwater units that have been allocated.”
Mayor Jordan Marlowe joked that Lee just “threw out a number,” pointing out that it likely will cost a lot less than $10 million.
Commissioner Monty Farnsworth asked if residential or commercial customers would be paying. Lee said they plan to charge both residential and commercial customers, with more of the burden pushed to the commercial side since they use more.
Marlowe clarified, “Right now, the residents are paying all of it (through their taxes)… We are all paying for the maintenance of all the stormwater.” He said the study will help decide the fairest way to bill everyone, including businesses, based on their usage.
Commissioner Mark Clark asked how long it will take to complete the study, and Lee responded that it will take at least six months once they approve it.
Marlowe reiterated, “You’re already paying it in the general fund… Everybody’s already paying this… This board has always been a big believer, and as far as we can go, making sure that the people who are getting the service are the ones paying for it.”
Commissioners said they needed to see the data from both studies to decide how to proceed.
Commissioner Rick Coleman made a motion to direct staff to move forward with the study, and Clark seconded the motion. No members of the public spoke. The motion passed 3-1 with Marden in dissent.
Newberry Historical Association
City Attorney Scott Walker introduced a resolution to create “a Newberry Historical Association dedicated to collecting, researching, interpreting, and preserving local history.” Walker said it would consist of five members for the purpose of making recommendations to the Commission.
Marlowe added that the resolution calls for members to be appointed by the Mayor, and then the group will elect their own officers. He said members will be able to stay on the Association’s board for months or years, depending on their available time to volunteer. Marlowe concluded, “We do all agree that it’s important to start cataloging our history, writing it down, putting it together… If City Hall expansion happens, we’re going to have a brand new beautiful building that was intended to be a museum. That could be turned into a museum, lots of exciting opportunities in front of us. But we’ve got to get the board together so they can come to you guys and talk to you about how best to make sure that we don’t lose our past as we move into our future.”
Marden made a motion to pass the resolution, and Farnsworth seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Solid Waste Collection Rates
Lee introduced the next item, a Solid Waste Collection Services Rate Amendment: “[Our Waste Pro] contract expires in June of 2024. In November, the City Commission renewed that contract. That renewal came with price increases from Waste Pro to the City. As a result of those price increases, the City needs to amend its solid waste rates so that we recoup and recover those costs… If you approve this, you’ll be approving rate increases through 2026 so that we don’t have to keep bringing this back… The residential rate increases would begin in October of 2024.” Lee noted that the City is currently “marking up” utility rates by 18%, and that is being reduced to 15% under the new rate schedule.
Lee showed the following slide comparing the proposed residential rates for twice-weekly trash pickup to those of nearby cities offering only once-weekly pickup.

Next, Lee showed the following slide with the new non-residential rates. He noted the full rate increase will take place immediately, with no gradual ‘step in,’ as there will be for residential customers.

Clark made a motion to approve the Solid Waste Rate Amendment, and Farnsworth seconded the motion. No members of the public wished to speak. The motion passed unanimously.
City elections on April 9
During Commission comment, City Clerk Judy Rice announced, “Just a reminder that our Newberry municipal election is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, April 9, next door at the Mentholee Norfleet Municipal Building. And the candidate qualifying for Groups 1, 2, and 3 started today at noon and will end at noon on Thursday, February 15… Please contact the City Clerk’s office for an appointment if you are interested in running for office… Election updates can be found on the City Clerk’s page on the City website… The qualifying fee is $140.”
The incumbent City Commissioners in Seats 1, 2, and 3 are Rick Coleman, Mark Clark, and Monty Farnsworth. As of Wednesday afternoon, Coleman and Clark are listed as Qualified Candidates on the website.
Commissioner Tony Mazon and Marlowe both mentioned the Blues and Barbecue Festival that took place on February 3. Marlowe said, “I got zero complaints, zero. I couldn’t even get in the door. I mean the businesses, the restaurants, were full. The people were up and down. They were walking from the Lions Club up past the railroad tracks… Everybody was having a good time. Everyone was happy. Everyone was okay with folks parked in their yards, you know, all over the place. Zero complaints. I mean, it was truly amazing. So, great job… People love barbecue, and they love some blues… and the cars.”
Newberry Planning & Zoning Board approves zoning change for NC Ranch
The Newberry Planning & Zoning Board heard a request at the February 5 meeting to change the zoning and land use designation for a 50-acre parcel within the NC Ranch planned development. This area is next to an existing rail line, and the developer hopes to reduce the amount of road traffic by having materials delivered by rail. In addition to storing materials at this centralized location, the builder plans to have a cabinet shop and other facilities there, all of which should add to the local economy and jobs. The requests were approved unanimously by the Board.
This will be the beginning of higher fees, taxes and cost of living for Newberry residents. If Newberry wants to be a big city it’s going to cost you. There are more developments coming with more stores and homes.