Council OKs $10-a-month raise in collection fees
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Atmore City Council, sitting two members short, unanimously approved during the Monday, May 23, meeting a 50-percent increase in monthly garbage and trash collection fees.
Council members Jerome Webster (District 2), Shawn Lassiter (D4) and Chris Harrison (D5) each voted in favor of the measure. District 1’s Webb Nall missed the session in order to attend the funeral of a relative, while District 3’s Eunice Johnson reportedly was absent due to a work conflict.
Mayor Jim Staff, who noted the increase is the first such hike in 14 years, said there were three reasons the increase is necessary.
“We haven’t had one since 2008,” he explained. “But diesel fuel costs a lot more than it did; we’re fixing to have to spend a bunch of money on our bulldozer out at the landfill, and tipping fees have gone up at the landfill.”
City Clerk Becca Smith confirmed that a $5 increase was implemented in 2008, represented the first price hike since 1998.
The new rate will begin July 1 and will be reflected on the bills sent out at the end of July. Calvin Grace, director of the city’s streets and sanitation department, said the most recent list, which “could vary from month to month,” included 2,252 households and businesses that pay for municipal garbage and trash pickup.
In other business, the trio of council members:
- Approved the transfer of the ABC license for Mike & Ike’s to reflect that the owner is now a Limited Liability Corporation.
- Approved cost reports for 15 parcels of property on which grass and weeds were cut by city crews in 2021 after the council declared them nuisances.
- Appointed Kevin Classen to replace Foster Kizer on the Historic Preservation Commission.
At the end of the meeting, Lassiter urged people to donate much-needed blood during a Friday, June 10, blood drive that will take place at Atmore City Hall, starting at 10 a.m.