City ponders what to do about brush pickup
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The city was put on notice in March about recycling company WastAway’s intent to stop taking the city’s brush on long-term basis, and city officials have said they would be challenged with finding another brush company.
Given the discussion at a recent meeting, however, the results have not been encouraging. Public Works director Bill Brock said brush disposal prices have increased.
“We’re going to have to make a decision pretty soon on whether we stay in the brush business,” he told members of the Streets and Sanitation Committee during a meeting earlier this month.
Brock said the city’s costs will likely double from around $12,000 to $24,000. He also said the city’s brush truck needs to be replaced.
“The other alternative is to get out of the brush business, and that would be my recommendation to this board, is to get out of the brush business,” he said.
Brock said the type of brush the city picks up is not suitable for chipping and called city brush the “bologna of trees” in response to a question about whether it could be used for mulch.
City officials also indicated the city cannot burn or else chip and store large piles of brush due to environmental regulations, and even though citizens may burn brush individually, city officials worried about more burning occurring in city limits. They also worried about more brush piles or costs to residents who would seek private service.
Ultimately, city officials seemed to think brush service is a valuable service provided to residents.
“I guarantee what the city does is very nice. It’s very costly, but I don’t know what you’re going to do without it,” Alderman Donald Hillis said.
Residents currently pay $1 on their garbage bills for the service. City officials indicated if the city continues to provide brush pick up for residents and the cost doubles, residents’ cost may double accordingly.
“It’s a nice service and for all residents, including myself, I would hate to stop it if we can manage it some way,” Mayor Royce Davenport said. “And $1 a month is not that much more.”
Streets and Sanitation Committee chairman Jimmy Haley also indicated a desire to continue providing the service.
“That’s a big request,” Haley said. “People call me all the time about brush.”
Brock said this week he is compiling a more detailed analysis of the issue to present to city officials in the near future.
WastAway is currently accepting the city’s brush and is working with the city until other arrangements are made, Brock also noted.