If the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities tentative 2020 solid waste budget doesn’t change, the fee will increase $2 next year.

On Monday, Kelly Hawkins, BPU finance and customer accounts manager, discussed the proposed tentative 2020 solid waste and district heating budgets. Hawkins said the solid waste collection fee would increase for both city and outside city residents.

The fee, prior to the recycling credit, would increase from $21 to $23 for city residents, which would increase from $10.50 to $12.50 for customers who recycle once a billing period.

For outside city residents, the fee would increase from $27.50 to $29.50, and with the recycling credit, would go from $17 to $19. Hawkins said this is the only proposed increase in the five-year capital plan for the solid waste division.

Hawkins said BPU officials are discussing an investment of $1.5 million in garbage cans with lids for each city residence. She said the cost would be split at $750,000 in the 2020 and 2021 budget. David Leathers, BPU general manger, said BPU staff is still developing how this program would operate, which is why it won’t start in 2020.

The schedule of fees is also being proposed to increase for the number of excess bags going from $3 to $5. Also for an additional recycling bin the cost would increase from $8 to $12; for a replacement bin the cost would increase form $10 to $15; and for an unreturned bin the cost would also increase from $10 to $15.

For district heating, Hawkins said there is no rate increased proposed in the 2020 budget. The board is scheduled to vote at its next meeting Oct. 28 on the tentative budgets for solid waste and district heating.

In other business, the BPU board was told how the city-owned utility company went one year without a lost time accident. Leathers said that took place on Aug. 25. As a recognition to this accomplishment, each BPU employee was given a water bottle, which each member of the board also received.

Tyler Case, BPU board member since 2016 during two different terms, has resigned from the board because he has accepted a new job in Hershey, Pa.