Town Council Weighs Fairness of Waste Site Use by County Residents

The Front Royal Town Council tackled a number of key issues during its Monday, June 9 work session—including finalizing the 2025–2026 fiscal year budget and taking a hard look at the fairness of county residents using the Town’s waste drop-off site at no cost.

The Town Council gathers for a work session on the evening of Monday, June 9. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

The budget was adopted despite some disagreement on the real estate tax rate. Councilman Glenn Wood cast a dissenting vote, arguing that a modest increase of two cents could help fund important community projects. “We can do better,” he said, pointing to needs he feels are not being met.

Vice Mayor Amber Veitenthal opposed the suggested tax increase, pointing to the fact that the real estate tax rate has not increased in the past four years—a point of pride, she noted. In her view, the Town must take a more disciplined approach to budgeting by focusing on what is truly essential rather than pursuing projects that may be considered luxuries. Her position reflects a concern for residents living near the poverty line, who could be disproportionately affected by even modest tax hikes.

After adopting the budget, council members reviewed a memo from Town Manager Joe Petty concerning the use of the Town-operated waste site—known as “the Farm”—by Warren County residents. The 103-acre facility includes a drop-off location for yard waste and other materials, a service that town residents help fund through their taxes. But county residents, who don’t pay town taxes, have been using the site at no cost.

“This isn’t tit-for-tat,” said Mayor Lori Cockrell. She pointed out that while Front Royal residents pay county taxes supporting the Bentonville transfer station, county residents do not contribute to the upkeep of the Farm despite using it. The Town is especially concerned with the cost of yard waste processing, which is increasing as more non-town residents use the site.

The council discussed four potential responses:

1. Charging a $15 fee per yard waste drop-off for county residents.
2. Negotiating a reduction in tipping fees, the Town pays the County to offset the cost.
3. Limiting access to county residents, allowing only commercial deliveries with valid tickets.
4. Taking no action and leaving the policy as it stands.

Several council members expressed preference for the second option—pursuing a negotiated cost adjustment with the county—with the fee-based model as a backup plan if no agreement can be reached. Mayor Cockrell emphasized the importance of involving the county in the discussion, aiming for an equitable and cooperative solution.

Other items on the evening’s agenda included a presentation on a potential analytics service contract and a discussion of Brightspeed’s franchise agreement to continue managing local telephone infrastructure. The council also heard a request for reimbursement of an application fee related to a special use permit, and Mayor Cockrell led a brief review of the Town’s strategic plan for 2025–2028.

The meeting closed with no final decision on the Farm issue but with strong momentum to begin discussions with county leaders. The goal: a solution that ensures fairness for town residents who currently foot the bill for a service being shared across the county line.