WINONA – Those living outside a municipality in Montgomery County will soon have a new garbage collection service.
Arrow Disposal Service was awarded the county’s garbage collection service after the company submitted the low bid of $12.95 per can. The county’s current garbage collection service, Waste Pro, submitted a bid of $14.44. The bid was based on a total can count of 1,825 cans in Montgomery County.
Despite the accepting the lowest bid, the county is likely going to have to increase garbage rates for customers from $15 per month to $19 per month.
“We haven’t had a rate increase in the last five years,” said Chancery Clerk Ryan Wood.
Montgomery County Board of Supervisor President Ron Wood said although there will be a difficult period of transition changing from one company to another, the county could not justify going with the higher per can bid, especially if the county is forced to increase rates to customers.
“We have to go with the cheapest,” said District 1 Supervisor Keith McGee.
In other county business:
• The county hired Govease to handle April’s tax sale, which will be held online for the first time. The agreement is for one year, and the county was not required to sign a contract for the service.
“We won’t be on the steps selling, but there will be someone at the courthouse to assist people,” said Laurie Lockett, Montgomery County Tax Assessor/Collector.
According to Lockett, by doing the sale online, the county will make more money on overbids.
The sale is scheduled for the first Monday in April.
Govease will be handling tax sales in 70 of Mississippi’s 82 counties this year.
• The board was split in their decision to fill the county’s open Veterans Service Officer spot. District 3 Supervisor Willie Earl Townsend, Jr. motioned to hire Orman Knox, with a Supervisor Ronald White second. The measure failed 2-3, with Wood, McGee, and District 2 Supervisor Edwin Taylor casting the dissenting votes.
After the vote, Taylor nominated Jimmy Harper, and the motion was seconded by McGee. Harper was appointed to the position with a vote of 3-2, with Townsend and White casting the dissenting votes.
• The board approved the sale of a plot of land across from Life Help on Alberta Street in Winona to Central Mississippi, Inc., for $10,000.
