A trash pickup rate rise in the city of Calhoun has left some residents puzzled, and city officials are trying to clear up the confusion.
During this year’s budget planning process, city council members voted to double the price of the service. Doing so, explained City Administrator Eddie Peterson, ensured the solid waste fund paid for itself.
The monthly rate rose from $8.65 per month, which in the past flowed directly back to the city’s contracted service provider, Mauldin Trash Service, to the current $16.65. This rate will drop to $15.65, however, Peterson said.
The city will use the extra money to fund the other services provided for by the solid waste fund, he said. Services besides trash pickup that are included in the fund are limb, leaf and brush pickup, operation of the recycling center and monitoring of the old landfill, something Peterson said will probably continue indefinitely.
Before making the decision to raise the pickup price, council members discussed having to raise the millage rate further than the projected .885 of a mil.
"I thought it was a fair way to do things," said Calhoun Mayor Jimmy Palmer, explaining that this way, everyone who receives the pickup service shares the expense of operating the solid waste fund, whether they rent or own a home in the city.
He said the city simply needed a way to cover operating costs. He pointed out that the city’s general fund budget dropped $2 million this year and the utilities fund budget was cut by $5 million from last year.
The city’s contract with Mauldin, said City Administrator Eddie Peterson, is territorial. He cautioned customers to ignore signs on their mailboxes from a competing company, saying customers cannot switch to this provider. Nor can they bypass the city and go exclusively with Mauldin, he explained, since the city has a contract with Mauldin.
The city has about 4,000 garbage pickup customers, he said.
So how about some clarification and even better a change in the cost or are we just lining the coffers. And while your at it...the new home assesments, please....I may be stupid, but I am not dumb, and neither are the residents of this community, shame on you for acting and treating us like we are,,we voted for you...we own you..not the other way around..maybe enough people will get incensed enough to make sure your reign over us will be short lived and true concerned for the citizens will return.
By not informing your customers you only continue the notion that a few people are making decisions which effect many in our community. As a community we should do everything we can to move away from the "good ole boy" cliques which seem so prevelant in our town.