image description
Residential permits are up $10 to $70 a year.

North Adams Raises Transfer Station Fees

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — New transfer station fees will see annual permits rise $10 and bags 25 cents a piece.
 
The City Council gave final approval to the new fees on Tuesday; they were passed to a second reading a month ago but not published in time to be voted at the last meeting. 
 
The fees at the transfer station are based on costs of labor and disposal of waste, which has continued to rise. The city budgeted $136,000 more for waste removal this fiscal year. 
 
Commercial and residential annual permits will increase for the first time in two years, with commercial going from $85 to $100 (and the same for additional vehicles) and resident from $60 to $70 with a fee of $5 for an additional vehicle.
 
Permits for part-time residents from Jan. 1 to June 30 will rise from $35 to $40, with $5 charge for an additional vehicle remaining the same. Temporary permits will remain at $20 a month or a one-time daily rate of $10.
 
The annual permit for nonresidents will jump from $80 to $100, with no allowable additional vehicles; nonresident monthly rates will also rise $10 to $40.
 
Bags will go up a quarter, with 33-gallon bags now at $3.25 and 15-18 bags at $1.75.
 
The scale rate will go from $0.0749 per pound, or $149.80 per ton, to $0.0862, or $172.04 per ton. Scaled waste has a minimum charge of $10.
 
Total cost to operate the transfer station this year is budgeted at $709,733, up about 18 percent, or $126,085, over last year. A big part of that is the cost for waste removal services, which is being budgeted at almost $100,000 over the actual costs for fiscal 2022 at $546,341.
 
Cost to dispose of large items and appliances are about the same or slightly higher. 
 
The fee schedule will no longer be posted in the city code but referred to in an appendix. All fees are being shifted out of the code to reduce the burden of updating the document, which currently lists the rates from 2015.
 
The rates are effective July 1, 2023, but residents who have already purchased their annual permit will not be charged the new amount until they get their permit next year. 

Tags: transfer station,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

View Full Story

More North Adams Stories