Highfill approves trash ordinance

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

— Residential trash service for those living within the corporate limits of the town of Highfill will be contracted through the city beginning Jan. 1, 2011.

An ordinance regulating solid waste and recycling collection and disposal in the town was read in full on it’s third and final read ing Sept. 14 and passed by the council by a vote of 3-1, with Mayor Chris Hol land casting the deciding vote. Council members Toby Lester and Michelle Rieff voted to pass the or dinance. Keven Varner op posed it. Council members Richard Boles and Sandy Evans were absent. The ordinance was read in full, rather than by title only, because Varner voted against suspending the rules.

The ordinance has an ef fective date of Jan. 1, 2011. Passage was sought by Mayor Holland to give the city time to solicit bids for a contract for services and to enter into a contractwith a provider before the Jan. 1 start date.

The ordinance requires all residential trash customers to receive their solid waste services through the city contract and forbids them to enter into private contracts with a trash provider, except that it allows customers already under contract to fulfill the terms of their present contract but not to renew a private contract. Commercial trash customers will continue to be served under private contract.

The ordinance sets a 4 percent franchise fee to be charged to the contracted trash provider as a cost of doing business within the city. It also regulates fees charged.

Under the new ordinance, trash and recyclables pickup must be provided weekly, with any changes in days of pickup to be published in the local news media or sent to customers by mail. A reduced-rate program will be required from the trash provider to be made avail-able to senior citizens, 65 or older, and for the handicapped or disabled. Alsorequired will be a program for the lawful removal of yard waste, and the removal of bulky waste two times per year.

Residents will be required to place their solid waste in approved containers and within 6 feet of the curb for pickup. Trash and trash containers may not be placed curbside more than 24 hours in advance of scheduled pickup, nor may the containers be left curbside for more than24 hours after pickup.

Holland said he hoped to submit a trash contract for bid and have bids available to the council for selection and awarding of a contract, possibly, by the November meeting.

News, Pages 2 on 09/22/2010