WINONA – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors voted to increase the county’s garbage rate $1.50 per month, from $15 to $16.50.
The measure follows the county awarding the county garbage collection to Arrow Disposal Service, the lowest of two bids at $12.95 per can.
According to projected annual costs, the annual cost to pick up 1825 cans in Montgomery County will be $283,505. Fees to dump garbage in Leflore Landfill are projected at $42,000 annually and to Liberty Recycling, $9,000 annually. Other services, including the disposal of garbage in the county’s roll-away bins at the county barn are $28,000, and the cost to employ a waste officer for the county is $23,000.
In all, projected annual costs for garbage disposal is $385,605.
According to Montgomery County Chancery Clerk Ryan Wood, ad valorem taxes will make up $62,000 in revenue and garbage fees will make up $319,000 – a total of $381,000.
With a $1.50 increase to garbage fees per household, that will leave $32,850 to cover any overage or unexpected expense to the county.
“The problem is that [Arrow Disposal Service’s bid] is an estimate an exact quote,” said Alan D. Lancaster, county attorney. “You have to leave some room for error.”
District 4 Supervisor Ron Wood told the board that the last time the county raised garbage fees was eight to 10 years ago.
In other county business:
• Jimmy Harper, Montgomery County’s new Veterans Service officer, asked the board to change the county’s current Veteran Service days of operation. From now on, the Veterans Service office will be open Monday and Tuesday instead of Thursday and Friday. Harper said the change will make it easier for him to help veterans in a more prompt manner.
“I believe I can be a better service to [veterans] on Monday and Tuesday because I have a better chance of getting answers from people [at the various state agencies,]” Harper said.
The board also voted for Harper to attend Veterans Service officer training next month on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, unless it is canceled due to the current coronavirus crisis.
• Ryan Wood informed the board that Parkwood Behavioral Health System in Olive Branch is raising their per-day rate from $600 to $650.
• The board approved moving the Mississippi State Extension Service office’s internet service to C-Spire to the monthly internet bill.
• The board approved the appointment of Gloria Johnson on the county’s library board, replacing Vickie Baskin, who resigned.
• The board took quotes to purchase a new excavator with brush cutter under advisement.
