Sludge fees are back in front of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly Monday.

During its last meeting, the Assembly introduced an ordinance that calls for increasing fees for its non-areawide sludge pumping program. Monday’s public hearing and vote should decide the matter.

Borough residents outside of city limits now pay a quarterly $45 fee for sludge pumping. If they use the service every three years, as recommended, that adds up to $540 for each pump.

Costs are going up, though, especially if the borough succeeds in convincing more homeowners to use the service as recommended. To pay for that, the ordinance calls for a quarterly fee of $57.18.

That means over three years, an individual homeowner would pay $686.18 for the service.

Also Monday, the Assembly will consider a four-hands request from Borough Manager Dan Bockhorst. In his report to the Assembly, he notes that a pot conference is planned in Denver, Colorado, Jan. 14 through the 16th.

The conference will focus on public safety and policy issues related to marijuana legalization, and the State of Alaska is sending representatives. Bockhorst seeks permission to send the borough’s planning director to the conference, as well.

Monday’s meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in Borough Assembly chambers. Public comment will be heard at the start of the meeting.