City turns down trash deal

Move would have cost citizens $4 per month more

By Janet Jacobs

A proposal from Allied Waste to put all residential trash service on the once weekly automated pickup didn’t receive a warm reception at a work session Tuesday before the regular council meeting, and will be studied for the next three months by city staff.

Currently, about a fourth of the city is already on once-weekly pickup service, the continuation of a pilot program the council approved over the summer.

Allied is interested in expanding that to the entire city, which the company claims will save diesel, wear and tear on streets and manpower.

Under the proposal, Allied would provide 90-gallon bins for every house, and pick up trash once a week for an increase in fees of about 40 percent, to about $14 a month.

In addition, each house would receive a second bin for recycling, which, if residents participate, would extend the life of the city’s landfill.

The recycling program could be linked to an incentive plan to give people coupons if they recycle. The Recycle Bank is a company that ties shopping with recycling by cutting deals with local and state-wide merchants to give out coupons to residents based on how much that route recycles, explained Tony Cain, sales manager for Allied Waste.

“I think you’ll find the number of participants increases when they find they can get something for it,” Cain told the council.

Two issues that are brought up at every meeting are leaves and the colors of the bins. Currently, people in the pilot program have bright blue bins, which aren’t universally loved.

The color hasn’t been determined yet, Cain said.

As for leaves, Allied reps suggested having the city’s utility department sell s pecial “leaf” bags. The bags would cost $1 each, which would pay for the haul-off by Allied.

“When they buy the bag, they pay for the pick-up,” said Randy Dill, city council, precinct 4.

If the council had been willing to take the deal, the new fees and services would have begun this fall with a new five-year contract.

The city is on a contract now that expires in October 2009.

“Why do away with the contract we’ve got and go on a new one that will cost the citizens more?” asked Tom Wilson, precinct 1. “I have a problem,” he added.

Allied was hoping for a decision on the deal by Sept. 30 so the company could order the carts, but Mayor Brown said that was not going to happen.

“We can’t decide by Oct. 1,” Brown told Cain.

“We’re here to work with you,” Cain said. “Not to pressure you.”

Dance halls and ambulances

The Corsicana City Council did not take action on a change in the dance hall ordinance, or hear from companies that want to take over the collection of the ambulance service fees when the council met Tuesday. Both items were on the agenda, but the city attorney is still making adjustments to the dance hall ordinance, and the billing presentations weren’t made because not all the vendors were at the work session. Both will be put back on the agenda at a future date.

Water billing on tap

The Corsicana City Council did take action to approve buying some new software and computers for the finance department and the planning and zoning department Tuesday. The purchases will allow residents to pay their water bills on-line, and track complaints on-line. In addition, the behind-the-scenes work of the planning and zoning department will be more streamlined, explained Paul Ward, the planning and zoning manager.

Year-end financials done

The new fiscal year will begin Oct. 1, so the council took the final action on the new budget by approving it, and the new tax rate, as well as approving the year-end balances in the current budget. The tax rate will not go up, but will stay at .6272 for every $100 in appraised value, which will actually collect more money, since appraisals went up. In addition, the council awarded bids on fuel, gravel, water purification chemicals and road construction materials for the 2009 year.

Ambulance fees up

The council also increased ambulance fees, part of an effort to balance the budget in the EMS department. The fees for a standard transport will go up $75, mileage will increase from $10 a mile to $12 a mile, and all other expenses will go up 20 percent.

County contracts approved

The council also approved the contracts to provide services to the county residents, for ambulance service, library, fire and animals. The county has to pay the city $350,000 for the EMS to serve the non-city parts of Navarro County, and $75,000 a year for library, fire and animal shelter services.

Greenhouse granted

A Special Use Permit was granted to residents at 2654 Maplewood to allow them to put up a greenhouse and garage on their lot.

Aldama reappointed

George Aldama was reappointed to the Civil Service Commission.

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Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com