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Burlington Residents Face Larger Garbage Bills

Burlington residents should get ready to pay more to have their garbage picked up each month.

The city council has approved the first reading of an ordinance to increase the monthly fee by $0.90 to $13.00.

Mayor Jim Davidson says this is the first step in a five-year plan to address a roughly $200,000 deficit in the sanitation department’s budget.

He says the goal is to move the budget into the black by $200,00 through additional, annual increases. 

Davidson says the city should also be able to purchase equipment and vehicles for the department without borrowing money.

The Burlington City Council must approve the increase two more times.  It is slated to take effect in October.

POLICE CHIEF

Davidson says his city’s new police chief brings both experience and continuity to the post.

The city council accepted the recommendation of City Manager Jim Ferneau and hired Major Doug Beaird to replace former Police Chief Dan Luttenegger.

Luttenegger retired earlier this summer.

Davidson says Beaird stood out from the three other finalists because of his time with the Burlington Police Department and his varied service.

Beaird has been with the Burlington Police Department for the last 25 years.

He served as interim police chief for about two months.

UNION CONTRACTS

The Burlington City Council has extended three union contracts to save the city money.   

The agreements, which were set to run through June 30, 2014, included 4% raises during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013.

The contracts now run through June 30, 2016 and feature 2% raises each of the final three years.

Mayor Jim Davidson says the reduced raises could save the city $150,000 during the upcoming fiscal year. 

He says it shows the dedication of Burlington’s union employees that they would step up and help the city during difficult budget times.

The rest of the language in the three union contracts will remain the same.

Davidson says non-union workers will also receive 2% during the upcoming fiscal year.

Jason Parrott is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.