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“Mandatory” garbage collection possible

ShowImageDuring Thursday’s Fiscal Court meeting, 109 Board Chair Kathy Reed addressed the Court, noting that the current contract with Scott Solid Waste is set to expire at the end of the year.

Reed stated the Board would like the Fiscal Court to begin the process of advertising the contract, with the added provision that the language be changed to include “mandatory” garbage pick-up for residents, as opposed to “universal” pick-up, as it has been in the past.

That one word has been a point of contention for citizens and politicians for years as many people feel they do not want government mandating what they can or cannot do with their garbage.

Under the current ordinance, all citizens have two options for garbage pick-up. They can either subscribe for curbside pick-up at $15 per month, or bring their garbage directly to the Stearns Transfer Station and pay $1 per bag.

There has been little enforcement of the ordinance, as fewer than 50 percent of county households participate, and only about 300 residents use the $1 a bag service.

Deputy Judge Andrew Powell admitted the numbers are low, but estimated that probably 80 percent of county residents use the service in some way: either by putting their garbage in with a neighbor’s or bringing their waste to a commercial dumpster.

But others, he said, often dump their garbage at the side of the road or create potential health hazards by burning their waste – rather than sign up for trash pick-up.

“To me this is the greatest issue this county faces,” Powell said. “There needs to be a better process put in place.

Powell noted that recently one business looking to locate in McCreary County cited the garbage issue when opting to locate in Corbin instead.

Magistrate Jason Mann, who sits on the 109 Board, said he would support mandatory pick-up, if substantial lower rates were offered to the citizens by whichever company is awarded the contract.

Speaking out against the idea of mandatory collection Magistrate O.L. Perry stated there was already too much burden on citizens, and any additional fees would be too much to bear for people who can’t afford it.

Magistrate Roger Phillips stated he believed Scott Solid Waste might not even consider putting in for a new contract, and a change to mandatory pick-up would probably drive any waste management company away as they would not want to enter in to such an agreement.

Other options discussed could have added the garbage bill to the annual property tax bill, such as in Scott County, Tennessee, but that would not be a popular move.

Additionally, the County could run its own garbage service like a county-owned utility, but that would put a huge financial strain on the government with start-up and operating costs.

Magistrate Perry first forwarded a motion to keep the ordinance “as-is,” omitting the “mandatory” change, which was seconded by Magistrate Phillips. That motion failed, with Perry and Phillips the only supporting votes.

Magistrate Mann followed with a second motion, calling for a new ordinance with mandatory pick-up – with a reduction in price and a substantial senior citizen discount. Magistrate Baird seconded.

That motion passed 3-2.

The issue will certainly be heavily discussed again, as an ordinance with the requested changes being drafted and will need two public readings to become law.

Once an ordinance is in place, the County can advertise for proposals from waste management companies to provide the service. The County would reserve the right to negotiate rates with any company offering a proposal.

In other actions Thursday night, the Fiscal Court passed the second reading of a new ordinance that would add additional court costs for several civil and criminal offenses. The ordinance, introduced last month, will call for those fees to be added to court costs, and to be forwarded to the County by the Court Clerk’s office.

Judge Executive Doug Stephens informed the public of a telephone poll with the Magistrates to approve borrowing $200,000 from the Road Fund to pay the first insurance payment to KaCO. As in previous years, the borrowed money will have to be repaid to the original fund by the end of the fiscal year. Magistrates Phillips and Baird voted against the loan.

Three bids for Little League field lighting were opened, with prices ranging from about $37,000 to $92,000. The bids were forwarded to the Park Board to review to ensure they meet league lighting requirements.

Magistrate Phillips noted the Park Board designated $50,000 to be used for lighting, and allowed the Little League to determine if they wanted to add lights to all fields, or just one field that would meet Little League requirements.

The Park Board also submitted a list of improvements they wanted to implement at the park, including a basketball court, new playground equipment and a sign. The Court will accept bids on the materials for each project (excluding blacktop for the basketball court) to ensure the best prices are obtained for the items.

County Attorney Conley Chaney presented a letter he intended to send to Governor Matt Bevin asking for legislation allowing counties without an operational Jail, like McCreary, to use facilities as a holding/processing area.

He noted in the letter that such a move would save money over transporting in many cases, but the Department of Corrections has denied authorization to do so, but any assistance from Frankfort would help clear the way for it to be possible.

Magistrate Phillips questioned Judge Executive Doug Stephens why a list of businesses and individuals with delinquent Revolving Loans had not been published, as was requested by the Fiscal Court several months ago.

Judge Stephens admitted he had not done so, but noted that negotiations have been underway with some loan holders through the amnesty offered by the Court. He promised that the Magistrate’s request would be honored, and a list would be forthcoming.

The Court then adjourned for an executive session to discuss a possible settlement offer from one of the loan holders.

After about half an hour the meeting reconvened with the announcement that the County would submit a counter-proposal to the loan holder, with the hopes that it would be accepted and the debt settled.

The next regular scheduled meeting of the McCreary County Fiscal Court will be on September 8 at 6:00 p.m.

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