Meet Rylee and Hoot, the Port St. Lucie Police Department’s new bloodhounds
Deputy Chief Leo Niemczyk of the Port St. Lucie Police Department introduces the agency’s two new bloodhounds, Rylee and Hoot, to be used for tracking people on August 7, 2024
PORT ST. LUCIE — Garbage and sewer fees are expected to increase next fiscal year, according to preliminary rates unanimously approved by the City Council Monday.
These votes will also set the date for public hearings, where residents can give their opinion to the council, and any votes on fees will then take place.
Hearings will be held on September 9 at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall, 121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd.
The fees, which will be finalized after two City Council votes, will take effect Oct. 1. As with other aspects of the city budget, the fees could be changed before final approval.
Garbage collection, disposal and recycling fees are expected to increase by $13.77 per household, from $432.67 to $446.44, city documents show. That would be an increase of about 3.12 percent.
According to city documents, the stormwater fee for an average property with 2,280 square feet of impervious surface is set to increase by $5, from $178 to $183, an increase of about 2.8%.
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As the city prepares to raise garbage fees with current provider FCC Environmental Services, it continues to pursue a lawsuit against previous provider Waste Pro. That lawsuit was originally scheduled for a July 1 trial date. Instead, the case was postponed indefinitely at a hearing, also on July 1. On August 7, Waste Pro filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The city has not yet responded.
Wicker Perlis is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter for St. Lucie County. Reach him at [email protected].
