DAVIDSON—Now that Davidson has a brand new garbage pit and approval to use it, Davidson town council last Tuesday looked at adopting new policies and rates to go along with it.

The permit issued by Saskatchewan Environment to operate the new cell was presented to council. It took effect Nov. 28 and is good for five years.

“I feel this should be a champagne moment,” Coun. Arlene Low said of the long awaited approval.

Coun. Jared Shaw joked the celebratory christening of the new pit could occur by “busting it (the champagne bottle) open over a bag of garbage.”

Jokes aside, the new cell at the Davidson landfill came with a hefty price tag, about $200,000.

Council discussed the need to triple fees to better reflect the cost of building the pit and maintaining the landfill.

Council reviewed a new fee schedule and policies, suggested by Trent Thomson, public works foreman, that were similar to those of the Town of Wynyard.

The proposal would triple fees. A car or half-ton load would increase from $10 to $30; a 3-quarter or 1-ton load would triple from $30 to $90, a 2- or 3-ton load would increase from $50 to $150, a 4-ton-tandem trailer increases from $100 to $300 and a semi load would go from $150 to $450.

All loads taken to the landfill would be inspected.

Contractors are required to sort their loads to avoid filling the garbage pit with refuse that could be diverted from the pit such as dimensional lumber and asphalt and concrete.

Mixed loads that are not separated will be subject to an extra charge that is triple that of the regular rate.

Some councillors expressed concern about the backlash from landfill users if the rates are tripled immediately.

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