It is possible be that by the first of the new year, Union will have a new garbage collector, at a higher price or maybe even once a week pickup.
Mayor Wayne Welch told the aldermen at their November monthly meeting last week that Waste Management did not renew their option to collect trash for another year at the current rate of $12.85 per household.
He said they proposed a new contract at $14.22 per month for Union's 750 stops. Welch said a series of negotiations back and forth weren’t successful and he declined to agree to a new deal.
But, instead of asking for a new set of binding bids, the city, at Welch’s suggestion, will seek proposals for collection firms. “I’d like to see just what the interest is,” he said.
“We can do this and find out what we may have to do before we ask for bids,” said the Mayor.
“I don’t know where it’s going to go. It may mean higher rates or it could result in us having to go to collection one day a week (instead of the current twice).” he said.
In other business that the Aldermen took up before going into a closed door executive session which Welch said was to discuss “possible litigation” and “a personnel matter”:
• Set new water rates for the County Line (178 customers) and New Ireland (198 customers) water systems which the Union Water Department services.
County Line rates are scheduled to rise from $25.00 to $28.00 for the first 2,000 gallons, and from $4.00 to $5.00 for each additional 1,000 gallons.
New Ireland rates will see an increase from $25 to $28 for the first 2,000 gallons and go from $3.50 to $5.00 for each additional 1,000 gallons.
Water tap and water deposit rates were set at $300.00.
The new rates are subject to the approval of the Mississippi Public Service Commission.
• Welch said that the city had recently been approved for two new grants through the State of Mississippi’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
One for $150,000 for street paving and a one for $449,000 for a new water well
Considered three cases of unkempt property:
• Listened to an explanation from Robert Daniels, 418 S. Decatur St., who told the board he was still in the process of lining up the last of the finances he needed for the purchase of the property.
Alderman Rex Germany said Daniels had made a lot of progress and the Board agreed to continue to hearing for 30 days.
• Alderman Stanley Walker said the property of Sandra Martin, 105 Gum St., was also showing improvement and continued the issue for 30 days.
• Continued the hearing for Michael Bematre, 106 Gum St., until the December meeting.
• Accepted a bid of $1,678 from Steve Milling for the purchase of a 2001 Ford Ambulance that the city had designated as surplus property.
