While waiting for the approval of the relevant Ministry to raise a multi-million loan from Prva Banka, Komunalne djelatnost DOO Ulcinj is preparing for the season, planning to introduce video surveillance at illegal landfills and claiming that they are not considering increasing service prices, which were last adjusted 17 years ago.
Executive Director Senad Kolari He announced that he would not raise the price of services, which is currently 6 cents per square meter.
"Prices were last adjusted in 2008, and considering inflation, the effects of which are not going unnoticed by us, we would have reason to increase them. However, we decided to keep the existing prices because we can complete our obligations with them," Kolari said in an interview with "Vijesti".
The Ulcinj Assembly recently gave the green light to the Public Utilities Department to borrow from Prva Banka in the amount of 3,4 million euros for 10 years, so that the company could settle a decade-long debt to the Tax Administration and renew its dilapidated vehicle fleet.
Kolari, who took office in 2022, said that it was high time to get into this matter because the interest on taxes paid to the Tax Administration amounts to around 800 euros per day, which is a burden on business.
"But not only that, we owe our workers contributions for the period 2016-2022, when the debt arose. It is important to point out that the basic debt to the Tax Authority is 2,26 million euros, and the interest is 519 thousand euros. If we settle the basic debt by March 1, and we will because we only need the consent of the Government, according to the new Law on Tax Debts, we will not pay interest."
Kolari states that out of the 3,4 million euros in loans, the Public Utilities Department will use 2,4 million to pay off the debt to the Tax Administration, while another million euros will be used to purchase work machinery. He said that they plan to purchase a garbage truck with a crane for emptying semi-underground containers of 16 cubic meters, worth 250 thousand euros, a truck with telescopic booms costing 170 thousand euros, two garbage trucks of 8 cubic meters - 300 thousand euros, a garbage truck of 5 cubic meters - 120 thousand euros, two special vehicles for collecting waste in the Old Town and on Mala Plaza - 70 thousand euros, and a truck for maintaining public lighting - 90 thousand euros.
He recalled that they sent four pounds for the loan, but that only Prva Banka accepted it. The loan was taken at an interest rate of 5,95 percent per annum, while the monthly annuities will amount to about 37 thousand euros. No mortgage was required for the loan, only a bill of exchange guarantee, Kolari said.
He stated that in 2015, the Municipality took over the entire debt for contributions in the amount of 1,3 million euros for the period from 2012 to 2015 and concluded a reprogram that it is regularly repaying. In the meantime, from 2016 to 2022, a second debt was created that is the burden of the new management.
Despite the difficult situation, the Utilities sector is one of the few companies that is doing well, regularly paying employees' salaries with contributions and debts to suppliers. In the tabular business report, it can be seen that the debt for contributions in 2023 was overpaid by a little more than 145 thousand euros, while in 2024 it was reduced to zero.
It can also be seen that from 2022 to 2024, a revenue growth of 58,6 percent was recorded, while the realization index was 89 percent.
Kolari said that in January alone, the company initiated around 200 processes with public bailiffs due to debts.
"We currently have over three thousand proceedings before the court and public enforcement officers, worth between 1,5 and 2 million euros."
The utility company has 149 full-time employees, while during the season, they hire about 20 more as needed.
Kolari said that he recently concluded a contract with the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management for garbage collection during the season worth 340 thousand euros and that he expects to do the same with the Municipality, which has budgeted 850 thousand euros for the company's services.
In addition to purchasing new vehicles, the company is starting to service five garbage trucks, which will be operational by the season. With new machines and serviced vehicles, the situation in the city should be significantly different.
Illegal dumping of garbage will be sanctioned
Kolari stated that the Municipal Services have been struggling for years with two illegal landfills in the city - in the hinterland of Velika Plaza and near Vidikovac above Valdanos. Last year, Municipal Services workers caught unscrupulous citizens dumping waste in places not designated for that and photographed them - all of them were prosecuted and sanctioned.
"I want to tell citizens that this year we will also start with video surveillance in critical locations. To begin with, we are starting with two solar cameras and purchasing a server, which will contain everything from these and future cameras that we will purchase and install in as many locations as possible. Anyone who illegally disposes of waste will be sanctioned," warns Kolari.
He said that, according to the law, the company has the right to record and protect its property, especially considering that unknown persons have set fire to containers several times over the past year.
He also reminded that every year, before the season, mini dumps appear near containers, where construction materials and other waste are deposited due to construction work on buildings. He appealed to citizens not to do this, but to wait for the waste collection vehicles and then dispose of it.
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