Garbage transition underway

Published 11:18pm Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Comments

The transfer of the city’s garbage and waste management to Advanced Disposal, a private trash company, is still underway with the last few details being ironed out in the contract and fee exemptions being applied for.

The deadline to apply for a fee exemption is Dec. 31 and this exemption is for those individuals who solely have social security as their household income. That means there can be no wage income or retirement income in the household.

“Everyone with this exemption has to reapply every year for it,” Mayor George Evans said. “Even though we are switching to Advanced Disposal everyone has to reapply for this exemption.”

To re-qualify for exemption residents must bring a current benefit letter from the Social Security office to City Hall, Tax and License Department. The garbage exemption is for the year 2013. But those who have not made payments on their garbage could expect some repercussions. It is possible that those who owe the city money for their garbage pickup fees, their names may be published, Evans also mentioned.

“We want to ask everyone to help us out on that though and just come on in and pay,” he said. “Let’s not get into an embarrassing situation where your name is published for owing money.”

The Selma City Council voted to approve the preliminary contract between the city and Advanced Disposal at the Monday meeting. “Well now that we have the updated contract approved we will be starting to organize meetings.” Evans said. “We will go to different city schools and have meetings and public forums to help with the transition to Advanced Disposal.”

He said he wants to have these local meetings to cut down on the confusion and help with the changeover. The meetings are not yet scheduled but Evans said they would take place throughout the months of December and January. The meetings will include Evans and a representative from Advanced Disposal.

Much of what I have heard [about the change over] is seemingly negative,” Evans said to the council on Monday. “But I don’t know of anything when you change something that people don’t complain about — that’s just life. But the fact is we are trying to do something that will make the service better.

Evans has stated earlier that no city employees will lose their jobs in the change over. The current rate for garbage pickup will be $12 a month and billing will be quarterly.

 

Comments
  • popdukes12

    For once, I agreed with councilwoman Crenshaw that this should be a tax supported function of city government. But, the city continues to slip more and more into the social supports of people living under a centralized city government and less into the “core” functions (fire, police, public works) that were enumerated for the creation of that city government to start with. The mayor justified the contracting of this service due to lack of profitability and a deterioration of the service fleet. Isn’t that just poor management, or not knowing how to manage what is essentially a service type business. I have several concerns about the new contract that were never voiced during the open council meeting on this subject:

    1.) Will the contractor report people to the credit bureau if they don’t pay their bill?

    2.) Where will the money come from to buy new trucks in order to get back in the business if the contract is not renewed in three years?

    Remember that this was the only contractor that bidded on the contract.

    3.) If there is a $200,000 savings by no longer providing this service, will these saving be returned to the tax payor or simply “sucked up” into an ever growing government?

    Just some random thoughts, I’m sure others have similar questions…………………………pops

    • popdukes12

      One other thing, The Tax and License Dept. will now have 500 additional people in their office during the Christmas season each year (before the December 31 deadline) pleading for an exemption from the garbage fee. I’m sure the ladies in there will enjoy that as it should add to the Christmas spirit. I also haven’t heard anything about the city’s views on licensing of individuals who may want to start a little “two men and a truck” concern to pick up garbage. I personally pay $25 a month to have one small can picked up once a week, at the curb side. Even if I would rather see this as a free service, I don’t understand a life situation where $12 couldn’t be afforded, given all the social safety nets provided for the poor. If $12 is going to keep someone from eating, they shouldn’t be living by themselves to start with. Doesn’t Selma, Dallas County and the State of Alabama have case workers for those that are so far down on the economic food chain? pops

Editor's Picks