Where the BOC stands on trash




During the called meeting June 28, the Board of Commissioners continued discussions about the dilemma of how to do away with the county’s 108 dumpster sites.

The current proposal is to construct 10 manned drop-off sites, each one monitored and staffed with specific hours of operation. The plan would include locating the sites approximately five miles from each residence.

Burke County is looking at Toombs County’s seven convenience center set-up, including the cost of construction and operating costs.

The transition from dumpsters to manned convenience centers would not occur over night. Each site would sit on at least an acre parcel. The county would furnish the supervision of the sites six days per week. A contractor would haul away the garbage approximately four times per site per week. The estimated initial expense of building 10 sites is approximately $2.5 million, with a first- year cost of more than $3 million. The estimated annual operating expense is about $750,000.

“The problem with 10 sites is that we are going to have to buy some land,” said County Manager Merv Waldrop.

The BOC agreed to schedule a field trip to Toombs County. “I know two commissioners in Toombs,” Chairwoman Terri Lodge Kelly. “I want to see their side of how it’s working.”

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