At Monday’s meeting, the Marshalltown City Council discussed the possibility of enacting an urban tree fee as a possible means of generating additional revenue for the city.

The idea was initially brought up for consideration by the council at a meeting back in January.

A proposal was made to have a $1 monthly fee applied to local customers water works accounts.  With more than ten-thousand accounts, the fee would generate a little over $120,000 in revenues for the city.

If the fee were to be charged to residential customers only, the city would still generate more than $115,000 annually.

Monies generated from the urban tree fee would be used to help fund park staff time and benefits, as well as about $80,000 worth of tree trimming and removal.

a proposal was later made to enact a larger fee to help offset any potential costs involved with carrying out city-wide tree services.

A motion was later made and passed by the council that would allow for a standard fee of $1.50 per month to be assessed to all water works accounts, which in turn would generate just over $180,000 in revenue.

The matter will later be brought back before the council in a form of a resolution, making the entire process official.

The council also discussed and passed a motion that would allow for a $1.50 per month rate to be charged for individuals who utilize the city compost facility.  The fee, in turn, would generate an estimated $173,000 in revenue for the city.  The matter will later be brought back before the council in the form of a resolution for final approval.

The newly imposed fees would tentatively go into effect on July 1st.