City approves five-year WastePro franchise renewal with CPI pause until 2027

The High Springs City Commission voted unanimously Jan. 8 to approve a five-year franchise agreement with WastePro for the city's solid-waste services, with WastePro agreeing to waive consumer-price-index increases through Oct. 2027.

City staff explained that the current residential collection rate is $24.50 per month and that WastePro offered the five-year term to provide stability. Dana Williams of WastePro told the commission the company would work with the city attorney to draft an addendum to the existing contract and return it for approval.

Commissioners pressed staff on the timing and rate assumptions. One commissioner said the city has not applied a CPI increase in the current contract year and asked whether commercial rates would remain unchanged; staff confirmed commercial rates would continue to increase by CPI after the waiver period. A resident question during the meeting prompted clarifying remarks that the $24.50 residential rate would remain in effect until Oct. 2027 under the proposed terms.

Mayor Miller and commissioners approved the motion on a voice vote. Staff said the final contract language and implementation details would be brought back to the commission for formal execution.

The next step is for WastePro and the city attorney to draft the written addendum and present it for final approval at a future meeting.