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HARTINGTON — The Hartington City Council Monday approved a new ordinance and a new resolution to bring some more money into the city coffers.
The Council approved a new occupation tax ordinance to tax short term — Air B&B type — rentals. The Council also approved resolutions to change some recycling center fees and to adopt a master fee schedule.
Prior to this ordinance, anyone staying at the Cobblestone Inn or Hartington Hotel was charged an occupation tax, but no one staying at a bed and breakfast or Air B&B had to pay that tax.
At the January meeting, Council members said this puts traditional room rentals, such as the Cobblestone Inn and Hartington Hotel at a real disadvantage.
'I think that's only fair to the hotels we have in town,' Councilman Cody Christensen said at the January meeting.
They estimated there are at least 12-15 of these non-traditional rooms for rent in the city.
They then asked City Attorney Nikki Brandt to draft the proposed ordinance.
The Council also approved rate changes at the city owned Hartington / Cedar County Transfer Station.
The Transfer Station rate increase will only affect people living outside of the Hartington city limits.
The Council was looking for ways to offset a tipping fee cost increase at the Jackson landfill where reuse and recycling is sent.
The facility announced late last year that rate increases would go into effect in 2025. Based on current usage, that increase would most likely amount to a $2,600 annual increase, said City Clerk Brittni Benscoter.
The Council discussed the possibility of raising local and commercial garbage collection rates again, but hoped another solution could be found.
Prior to the new resolution, Hartington residents and non-residents were all charged the same rate to use the transfer station.
The new non-resident rates will be 50 percent higher than the rates charged to city residents. The city will also demand immediate payment from non-residents instead of billing them, like as they do city residents.
Mayor Mark Becker said he feels the increase is fair since city residents had to foot the cost for building the facility and maintaining it, he feels they shouldn't have to pay as much as non-residents to use the facility, especially since so many non-residents use it.
In 2024, city residents used the facility 1,185 times, while non-residents used the facility 1,069 times.
The transfer station collected $78,458 in fees from city residents in 2024 and $41,068 in fees from non-residents.
The Council also approved a Master Fee schedule which puts all city fees in one place. Prior to this city employees had to search prior proceeding minutes to find the most current fee information.
