No more "free" bag tags for Kincardine

Kincardine council has eliminated the distribution of "free" or "taxpayer-funded" bag tags.
At the budget meeting last night (Jan. 12), at the Underwood Community Centre, all but councillor Randy Roppel agreed to switch to a full user-pay model for garbage disposal. Councillor Mike Leggett was absent.
Council also agreed, however, to drop the cost per bag tag to $2 from the current $2.50.
The draft 2015 budget included $230,000 in increased revenue if council okayed the elimination of the "free" bag tags.
Up until the end of 2009, each property owner received 52 bag tags per year, but with the 2010 budget, that was reduced to 26 tags per year. Council confirmed that the yellow bag tags are still valid but no more will be distributed.
During discussion last night, councillor Laura Haight said it's amazing how much a small fee can alter people's behaviour.
"When grocery bags started to cost five cents each, it was amazing how many people started using the permanent bags," she said. "With the elimination of taxpayer-funded bag tags, people have a choice of becoming more environmentally-friendly."
Councillor Linda McKee supported the idea, saying it will mean an increase in waste diverted from the landfill. She added that St. Anthony's School has a recycling program that accepts several items that can't be put in the Blue Box program, so that should be promoted.
Councillor Maureen Couture was also in favour, but suggested the cost per bag tag be dropped to $2 from $2.50.
ROPPEL AGAINST THE ELIMINATION OF "FREE" BAG TAGS
Roppel spoke against the plan, saying it's not a fee, it's a tax. "Why don't we do the fair thing and put the cost of garbage collection on the tax rate and do away with bag tags altogether? Because you know, if we're $100,000 short (in bag tag revenue), where are we going to get the money? From the taxpayers."
"I don't agree with that," said councillor Andrew White. "Seasonal residents and those who do a good job of recycling, should not supplement everyone else."
He added that council should review the garbage collection schedule and look at doing it bi-weekly in the winter, and the recycling collection every week year-round.
"I'm surprised at the number of people who have told me they have no problem with the elimination of bag tags," said deputy mayor Jacqueline Faubert. "I'd like to see more of a roll-out on this, and dropping the price to $2/tag would be part of that."
Mayor Anne Eadie said in addition to the increased revenue, there is also a savings to staff time without having to distribute the bag tags.
"Our residents do a fairly good job of recycling, but they could always do better," she said. "But, even by eliminating 'free' bag tags, we will still have a deficit of $700,000 in the waste collection budget this year."
"Actually, it will be more since we are reducing the price of bag tags," said Couture.
Haight noted there will always be some cost for garbage collection on the tax rate.
Eadie said it's still cheaper than adding to the landfill site - the cost to build the next landfill cell is $1-million.
In committee-of-the-whole, council approved the motion to eliminate the "free" bag tags, and drop the cost per tag to $2 from $2.50, by a recorded vote, 7-1.
Voting in favour were councillors Gordon Campbell, Maureen Couture, Laura Haight, Linda McKee, Andrew White, deputy mayor Jacqueline Faubert, and mayor Anne Eadie; voting against, was councillor Randy Roppel.
That was later approved by council, with the same recorded vote results.
At the budget meeting, council also agreed to terminate its agreement with the Penetangore Regional Economic Development Corporation (PREDC), saving $142,000.
At the end of the meeting, council was looking at a tax increase of 8.32 per cent, which equates to an increase of $108.19 on the average residential assessment.
Another budget meeting is slated for Monday, Jan. 26, at 5 p.m.



Kincardine council meets Monday night (Jan. 12), at the Underwood Community Centre for its second budget meeting; from left, are councillors Maureen Couture, Randy Roppel and Andrew White (hidden), deputy mayor Jacqueline Faubert, chief administrative officer Murray Clarke, mayor Anne Eadie, clerk Donna MacDougall, and councillors Laura Haight, Gordon Campbell and Linda McKee