The True Citizen
P.O.Box 948
Waynesboro, GA 30830
(706) 554-2111
4/24/02
Commission Committee Scraps Plans
To Charge For Resident Collection
The True Citizen Editor
County administrator Merv Waldrop will have the fee schedule ready for the May 14 county commission meeting at which time the full board will take action on the committee’s recommendations. Firms like Waste Management, a private contractor, and Lewis Disposal, the private company that contracts with the city of Waynesboro, will not be charged for resident garbage but will be charged for waste picked up from commercial accounts.
Waynesboro City Administrator Jerry Coalson who attended the meeting last week, said he believes city council will take the stand that the city should not be charged at all for residential or commercial pickup because of the Service Delivery Strategy agreement signed by the county two years ago. The agreement stipulates that the county would not charge the county’s incorporated cities to use the landfill. “It will be up to council to accept or reject this,” Coalson said. The commission, during 2002 budget discussions, agreed to implement a number of fees on residents including a solid waste collection charge, a tipping fee to use the landfill and a 911 surcharge on telephone bills.
It was estimated to implement a solid waste collection fee on all Burke County residents would cost them about $118 a year and would be included on their county tax bills they receive in the fall.
After much discussion during a meeting of the committee last week, it was agreed that it would be burdensome to try and collect the charges for each county resident and decided it would be better to continue paying for this service out of taxes already being paid by the residents.
Waldrop told the committee that it costs more than $1 million to operate the landfill including $818,000 for the transfer station. The county spends another $310,000 just to collect refuse from the 400 plus dumpsters throughout the county. The county contracts with a firm to move the solid waste from the county to a disposal site in the Savannah area. Waldrop said it costs the county $34 a ton to have the solid waste transferred but that the tipping fee actually will give the county more control over who uses it rather than being a revenue producer. While county residents will be exempted from the solid waste collection charge, they are now paying more on their telephone bill as the result of the 911 charge that became effective in March.
Each month all telephone lines listed in the county are now subject to a $1.50 fee for 911 service. Cell phones listed will be charged $1. These fees are expected to realize about $200,000 annually and the money can be used only to finance 911 operations. It cannot be used for general fund obligations outside 911, Waldrop said.
Waynesboro
Kicks Off Georgia Cities Week
True Citizen Staff Writer
Georgia Cities Week is meant to recognize the services that city governments provide to its citizens. As council member Neal C. Leonard Sr. pointed out, “It is a government for and by its citizens.”
City administrator Jerry Coalson announced the winners of the “If I Were Mayor …” Essay Contest. Michael White, of EBA, took home first place and read his essay to council and the audience. Caroline Collins, also of EBA, won second place; Jamie Joiner, of Burke County Middle School, won third and Alyson Jenkins, of Burkehaven Christian School, received an honorable mention.
Waynesboro Police Chief Karl E. Allen also presented plaques to five of his officers in recognition of their efforts in breaking up a juvenile auto theft ring. The officers were Sgt. John Landrum, Sgt. Sean Kirkland, Officer Brian McDuffie, Cpl. Bobbie Jockel and Communications Officer Brandi Page.
Bobby Braswell of the City Works Department also received a certificate of appreciation from the city for his work in installing a new water line. The job specifications were sent to contractors, and the lowest bid was around $51,000. Braswell informed the city administrator that his men had the means to do the job at a much lower rate, if they could hire some extra workers for the project. Council consented and the project was completed for around $18,000, saving the city several thousand dollars.
Vice Mayor Pauline Jenkins also spoke to those attending about the city’s recent development of a Neighborhood Watch Program. The group will hold another meeting on Wednesday, May 1, at 6 p.m. at city hall.
Other activities this week include lunch in the City Park from noon to 1 p.m. today (Wednesday) and an Arbor Day Ceremony at the 9th and Liberty Street Park at 10 a.m. An information booth on the city of Waynesboro will also be at various locations throughout the week.
A wee bit of o’ Scotland
Luke Lewis, left, and Daniel Goodhew with their dates, Emily Ashe and Amber Bailey, drew tremendous applause this past Saturday night during the grand march at Burke County High School’s Junior-Senior prom. Lewis and Goodhew are wearing the traditional Scottish dress kilts.
Lewis is a Scottish National, and Goodhew, who was born in Glascow, Scotland, and holds dual citizenship for the United States and Australia, decided after last year’s prom they would wear their native garb this year.
Legal
Organ of Burke County, Waynesboro, Sardis, Midville, Keysville, and Girard
