city council 

Nancy Edmonds Hanson

Moorhead residents will be paying a few cents more on their utility bills in 2022 due to increases in the fees charged for garbage, storm water and city forestry services. But the boost to each amounts to pocket change.

City finance director Jenica Flanagan provided the numbers to the city council on Nov. 22. The increases will be finalized as part of the city’s entire 2022 budget at the next meeting Dec. 13.

According to Flanagan, the garbage and wastewater fees will rise 2.5% beginning on the first of the year. For a typical 48-gallon garbage tote, that amounts to 25 cents per month; 64-gallon receptacles rise 38 cents, and 97-gallon containers 43 cents. Commercial rates will go up $1.02 for weekly pickup of one cubic yard, and $3.15 for eight cubic yards.

The monthly wastewater fee will be increased 51 cents for single-family residences. Multifamily buildings and commercial rates remain the same.

Flanagan said the monthly residential and rental unit charge for city forestry services will rise 20 cents.

A few recreational fees will also be increased. Among them: $5 boosts in adult ice skating, and junior varsity, varsity and Pee Wee tennis lessons. At the municipal pool, individual season passes rise $5 to $45 and family season passes $10 to $100.

Moorhead youth baseball fees are increasing from $159 to $180 per team, along with slight increases in the use of fields for tournaments.

Green fees are staying the same for city golf courses, though the rates for the driving range and frequent players card will increase.

Fees for the dance program are actually going down – from $80 to $30 – but the classes will be shortened.