Too many people are using garbage containers that might not be theirs and the city’s garbage collection company has said it is going to take measures to pick up containers people are not paying for.
Republic Services, a major garbage collection company the city contracts with to dispose of household garbage has said a survey of Clarksdale has determined there are more than 750 of its big blue plastic garbage cans around town that people are not paying for.
Republic has told the city clerk numerous residents have multiple containers and the city is not billing those customers for those containers. In a formal letter Republic has said it will be picking these containers up next month, unless the city starts paying for them.
Republic did say its records show that only 75 containers are being billed for double containers and they are requesting payment for those 75 containers for the month of January and February.
“I have requested a copy of the billing from (Clarksdale) Public Utilities,” said Clarksdale City Clerk, Cathy Clark. “Each household is charged $26.50 for one container and if they wish to have another container then we can add to their bill an additional $14.67.”
Clark said residents will have to call Public Works to request additional containers.
“I am also requesting an increase in the garbage collection due to inflation over the last several years, an increase in employees and the increase for maintenance and vehicles,” Clark told the board of Mayor and Commissioner on Thursday. “The increase should be a minimum of $3 per household. The last increase was in 2015.”
The $26.50 that residents currently pay, covers street sweeping, garbage collections, trash collections, litter control and recycling
“I have also requested a household count from public utilities Republic is billing for 4,880 customers, but CPU has only 4,677 customers billed,” said Clark. “However, a reconciling of the correct number of customers will not fully account for inflation.”
On a motion by Ward 2 Commissioner Ken Murphey and a second by Ward 3 Commissioner Willie Turner, the board voted unanimously to acknowledge Republic’s plans to pickup containers and allow residents to obtain an additional container by contacting Clarksdale Public Works.
In other business:
• The city approved Chris Black using the park on Yazoo Avenue on April 2 for a wedding and also requested police security.
• A public hearing was held for the Urban Renewal Bond Issue which is not to exceed $5 million and will be used to repair bridges, streets, sidewalks and reduce flooding. The board approved Mayor Chuck Espy to sign the Private Placement Agreement authorizing the issuance of the bond issue.
• The city paid the following bills: Cornerstone, $2,667; Chuck Espy, $210.60; Collective Seed & Supply, $230; Belinda Stewart, $1,016.25; Pitney Bowes, $506.88; Retail Coach, $7,500; Tythia Brunson, $200.
• The city amended the CDBG contract, under the mayor’s hand, for the Sasse Street project.
• The city was informed the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act allows local regulations and zoning and the local government option to deny the Act. The deadline for a decision is May 3 and commissioners and the mayor urged people to call them with their concerns.
• There was discussion of ARPA funding and the city will have to adopt a resolution and its first report on its plans to spend that money by April 1.
• The city disposed of the title for the old animal control officer vehicle that has been totaled.
• City Clerk acknowledged receipt of the city audit for FY 09-30-2020.
• The board acknowledged the retirement of Assistance Chief Norman Starks.
• The city will advertise for the post of Assistant Police Chief.
• The board amended the salary of Kerry Hardine, Building Inspector; offered employment to Eugene Witherspoon; authorized fulltime status to Corporal Otis Taylor; and approved membership of David Walker to the MS Association of Code Enforcement.
The city set hearings for renovation or demolition of: 1404 MLK, 429 Cherry, and 422 Fifth.
• The board modified the Police Department organizational chart for a staff or 35. The city is not at that number.
• Milton Gardner spoke to the board about his work with the homeless at the City Auditorium, getting lights on D. MLK Boulevard and changing the name of Lee Drive to Medgar Evers Boulevard.
• The city approved drive-by parade for Melrick Poindexter on May 7, to honor his graduation from the University of Mississippi school of Pharmacy.
The board adjourned until it’s noon meeting Thursday, March 24 at City Hall.
