Bessemer meets with trash company

By CHARITY SMITH

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Bessemer — Officials from Republic Services were on hand Monday, Dec. 20, at the Bessemer City Council meeting to discuss issues the city has been having with the waste disposal company.

City manager Charly Loper complimented Republic on the communication between its company representatives and the city, but said that the city had to do too much communicating with the residents on the garbage company’s behalf.

Loper said there have been times with whole neighborhoods were being missed by garbage collectors.

“The other day (Republic) had a person have a family emergency and (Republic) was not able to send a garbage collector out, so we had residents that were constantly calling,” said Loper. “We put it out on Facebook ... but it’s just been a lot on us at the office having to deal with the frequent phone calls.”

Jon Snyder, general manager for Republic, suggested that the city provide a list of resident phone numbers, so that the company could provide an auto-dial message directly to them when the trash pick-up is going to be delayed. He said that the service would be available at no additional cost.

The council and Loper liked the idea. However, Loper said the city is still compiling those numbers. “But that would be a great way to get the message out to them,” she said.

Mayor Adam Zak suggested the city give Republic a list of the numbers it has compiled thus far and update it as the list is completed.

Councilman Rob Coleman agreed. “If we can give them a partial list and then with it being a small town, word of mouth carries quickly.”

Loper said she will request that the garbage company give them a written statement that they will not sell residents phone numbers or use them for advertising, to alleviate residents concerns. “We’d be very happy to do that,” Snyder said. “We don’t want you guys to have concerns with garbage or taking phone calls.”

Zak asked if the company had a backup plan for if someone calls in sick. Snyder said they do, but the company is going through some staffing issues and apologized for the problems the city has been dealing with. He said the company is looking to hire additional drivers.

“But you guys are our priority and we want you to feel that way and we are going to do everything possible to correct the issue,” he said.

Jane Matthias, Republic’s operations supervisor said that the company is working to cross-train its employees. She said the company is also working to get better at scheduling and setting priorities.

Loper acknowledged that it takes a while to learn all the different neighborhoods in the city. She said the staffing issue and frequent turnover would account for some of the neighborhoods being missed as a newer driver might not know all the neighborhoods and routes.

“It’s just like random places that they missed and I’m guessing that’s part of the problem,” she said.

“We want this to be a good solid relationship where your guys are comfortable with Republic Services and the services we are providing,” Snyder said.

Councilwoman Linda Nelson said she’s concerned about the amount of complaints the city is getting about Republic’s garbage services. “That’s not fair to our residents,” she said.

Loper said that issue has been improving. She said that she likes that the company has cameras which show whether or not a resident had their trash out when the garbage truck passed through.

“That is an issue. When people don’t put out their garbage cans out in time, but they think they do. So that has helped with a little bit of that. So things are getting a little bit better on that front,” Loper said.

Nelson said it would be nice to have some continuity with the garbage pick up time. She said sometimes it is picked up in the morning and other times later in the evening.

“In a small town garbage is a huge deal,” said councilman Terry Kryshak.

Zak told them that one of the hardest things the city went through regarding garbage was the issue of residents not receiving their required garbage cans. He pointed out how it took over a year to get one resident a trash can. He asked if everybody finally had their cans.

Loper said she could not be certain, but to the best of her knowledge everyone has cans. Matthias said she is the one that delivers the cans and she makes rounds in the city to deliver cans at least once a week.

Special assessment

The council continued to further look into a special assessment tax for fund police and fire services that it has been considering imposing since October. The council has been considering imposing a 25% to 50% funded special assessment, which would equate to $29.27 or $58.54 at a flat rate, or 1.04 or 2.08 mills if the council decides to implement a millage. The tax would be imposed on the 2022 winter taxes.

Loper said that she looked into who would pay a special assessment tax. If the council imposes it through an extra millage, places that are tax exempt such as the housing commission and the school will not pay for it. However, if the council chooses to implement a flat fee for everyone, the city could choose whether or not to impose the tax on tax exempt places.

“I think there’s just a lot of moving parts. A lot of stuff to consider and a lot of options to look at. A lot of trying to figure can and what we can’t staff it for and I guess what is fair for the residents,” said Zak. “So instead of trying to hash through all this and spin our wheels, I would recommend that we go ahead and set up a committee to review these options. Come up with a couple different options and then recommend one or a couple to the council at a different meeting.”

The council voted unanimously to form the committee and decided that it will consist of Zak and Coleman.

The council also:

—Following a public hearing the council adopted an ordinance to repeal the requirement for a civil service commission from the charter. The removal was authorized by voters in the November election.

—Reviewed the 2022 meeting schedule. The council decided to cancel the second meeting in November to allow council members to participate in the deer hunting season.

—Approved a bid for the Langford Road Sewer Project from Jakes Excavating for $42,250.

—Accepted an offer from Jamie C. Bettinger to purchase a piece of land adjoining his property at 213 E. Sellar St. for $100. He said he plans to combine the lots and build a garage on the property within the next two years.