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Home My WebLink About09/10/2025 (2)Indian River County, Florida Indian River County Administration Complex 1801 27th Street Vero Beach, Florida 32960 indianriver.gov q � K �Ic �Ic �LORIO�' Solid Waste Disposal District Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Public Hearing on Tentative Budget and Proposed Millage Commission Chambers Board of Commissioners Joseph Flescher, District 2, Chairman Deryl Loar, District 4, Vice Chairman Susan Adams, District 1 Joseph H. Earman, District 3 Laura Moss, District 5 John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator Jennifer W. Shuler, County Attorney Ryan L. Butler, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Terri Collins -Lister, Deputy Clerk Board of Commissioners SWDD Meeting Minutes - Final September 10, 2025 The Board of County Commissioners reconvened as the Board of Commissioners of the Solid Waste Disposal District. The minutes will be approved at an upcoming meeting. 6. INDIAN RIVER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SITTING AS SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL DISTRICT BOARD 25-0844 Attachments: SWDD SWDD Resolution SWDD FAR (Final Assessment Resolution) A. Announce 2025/2026 Proposed Charge and Budget 1. Universal Collection Assessment $181.70 2. $125.06 per Residential Waste Generation Unit ($187.59/House) (15.00% increase from current year) $79.12 per Commercial Waste Generation Unit (15.00% increase from current year) Readiness -to -Use Fee $46.62 (15.70% increase from current year) 3. $42,047,435 Budget County Administrator John Titkanich outlined the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 Solid Waste Disposal District (SWDD) proposed charges. The proposed budget was $42,047,435. He stated that the County Attorney has received objection letters regarding the Universal Collection Assessment and has provided them to the Clerk. Chairman Flescher opened the public hearing. Madeleine Szabo felt the Universal Collection Service was costly, wasteful, and unfair. Daniel Hardee, representing Highridge Mobile Home Park, discussed his commitment to providing affordable housing in Gifford but said he could no longer afford to pay for Indian River County, Florida Page 1 Board of Commissioners SWDD Meeting Minutes - Final September 10, 2025 tenants' waste removal and would have to pass the increased assessment cost to the tenants. SWDD Managing Director Himanshu Mehta offered to have Waste Management contact Mr. Hardee to conduct a site visit and review dumpster options. Myra Ferguson, who owned Ferguson rental properties on the entire street except one house, felt that utilizing a dumpster versus individual trash service would be more economical and expressed concern about the high cost of the Universal Trash Service, which left her with no choice but to pass those costs on to tenants who could barely afford their rent. Mr. Mehta explained that a dumpster would not be allowed because the rental properties were on separate parcels, not a single parcel. Daniel Linden preferred using the Convenience Center and did not want curbside pickup. Donna Flaherty discussed the financial strain of the Universal Trash Assessment and the size of the bins. Mr. Mehta offered to review her case and told her about a Waste Management service called a back -door service, which required a physician's note. Darrae Norling opposed Universal Trash Service. Bob Ryall discussed the burden that Universal Trash pickup was having in the planned development where he lived. He also read a letter from a member of his community opposing the Universal Collection Service. Mr. Mehta explained to the Board that WM was working with communities with mixed uses, such as villas and single-family homes, that had applied for an exemption out of carted bins for the villas but were trying to get the bins out to those in single-family homes. Bill Rigby received clarification from Mr. Mehta that the County required WM's subcontractor to scan the container's serial number and connect it to an address. Mr. Mehta stated that if the containers were dropped off on a vacant piece of property, it was a mistake, and that only improved residential properties would be charged the Solid Waste assessment. In response to a protest submitted by Mr. Rigby regarding portions of the bid for trash collection, County Attorney Jennifer Shuler offered to arrange a meeting with Mr. Rigby. Jonathan Clint stated that he has a large property and uses a dumpster for his yard waste, which was picked up weekly. He did not need the Universal Collection Indian River County, Florida Page 2 Board of Commissioners SWDD Meeting Minutes - Final September 10, 2025 Service. Mr. Mehta explained that the County had no mechanism to exclude properties from the uniform assessment. Kristin Goldberg supported the Universal Trash Service. There being no further speakers, the Chairman closed the public hearing. Commissioner Moss stated for the record that she was opposed to Universal Collection Service from the beginning and has not changed her position. A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Chairman Flescher, to approve Resolution 2025-041, establishing the assessment rate to be levied upon all real taxable property in Indian River County, Florida, for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for the Solid Waste Disposal District. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4- Chairman Flescher, Vice Chairman Loar, Commissioner Adams, and Commissioner Earman Nay: 1 - Commissioner Moss A motion by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Chairman Flescher, the Board adopted Resolution 2025-042, relating to the management and collection of Solid Waste Collection Assessments in the Indian River County Municipal Service Benefit Unit for Solid Waste Collection Services; providing authority, definitions and interpretation; imposing Solid Waste Collection Assessments against residential property located within the Indian River County Municipal Service Benefit Unit for Solid Waste Collection Services for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025; approving the assessment roll and providing for collection of the assessments; confirming the initial assessment resolution; providing for effect and application of the assessment proceeds; providing for conflict and severability; and providing an effective date. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4- Chairman Flescher, Vice Chairman Loar, Commissioner Adams, and Commissioner Earman Nay: 1- Commissioner Moss A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Chairman Flescher, to adopt the budget in the amount of $42,047,435 for the Solid Waste Disposal District. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 4- Chairman Flescher, Vice Chairman Loar, Commissioner Adams, and Commissioner Earman Nay: 1- Commissioner Moss Indian River County, Florida Page 3 Board of Commissioners SWDD Meeting Minutes - Final September 10, 2025 The Board of Commissioners adjourned the Solid Waste Disposal District hearing, and reconvened as the Board of County Commissioners of the Preliminary Budget Hearing meeting, continuing with the adoption of Non -Ad Valorem Assessment charges. Indian River County, Florida Page 4 Board of Commissioners SWDD Meeting Minutes — Final ATTEST: Ryan L. Butler Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller By: Deputy Clerk SWDDPrelimBdgt/TCL/2025 Minutes Deryl Loar, Chairman September 10, 2025 . •`o��, `� Ft's '. gyp•.• f ,w��; .•�. Approved: January. 2026 Indian River County Florida Page 5