By Becky Jane Newbold
Managing Editor
Another plan for solid waste comes before county Monday
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March 12, 2020
Lewis County Junior Girl Scouts snagged all the recycling at their homes for one week and learned a bit about saving Lewis County Government money in Solid Waste expenses during their meeting Tuesday evening. Their leader, Kristin Gomez, was to deliver the collection to the local Transfer Station.
As county officials struggle to find solutions for the undisputed shortfall in the Solid Waste Department's annual budget, residents and business owners fluctuate between fear and boldness in their responses.
Many have expressed anxiety over the increases which will most definitely affect their bottom lines. Others are proactively starting recycling initiatives, both in their offices and at home.
A new resolution on the agenda for the Monday, March 16, 2020 meeting of the Board of Commissioners, sponsored by Commissioners Timmie Hinson and Michael King, will be presented as a compromise.
"I felt the businesses were getting hit too hard," Hinson said in an interview Tuesday. While Timmie Hinson is himself a business owner who will be affected by the increases, he also owns two homes. And he is listening to his constituents.
Proposed, alongside commercial increases, is a rate increase for residential fees of $20 bringing the total to $110 annually.
"I don't like increases either, but something has to be done to get rid of our garbage," he stated.
A leveled system of charges for commercial fees was modified by the two commissioners with input from some of the business owners who protested increases during a February meeting.
Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 have been equalized so within each level, all are charged the same fee, $60 per quarter, $240 annually. Churches will be exempt from the fee.
Level 2 businesses will pay $100 quarterly or $400 annually; Level 3 will be charged $150 quarterly, $600 annually; with Level 4 charged $500 quarterly or $2,000 annually.
Level 5 businesses charged $900 quarterly include Buffalo Valley, Hardee's, Lewis County Nursing Home, McDonald's Restaurant, and Burger King. Also a Level 5 business, Hohenwald Village Lane Apartments, will be charged $1,320 quarterly to compensate for all the residential trash within the complex.
The only Level 6 entity, Lewis County Schools, will be charged with $2,500 quarterly, if the resolution passes.
Hinson is one of several business owners we spoke with this week who already have started recycling in their shops. Dentist Jeff Peery and the Seivers at Real Milk Paint have ramped up recycling in response to the financial emergency Lewis County faces.
Girl Scout Juniors collected recyclables from their homes last week and brought them to their meeting Tuesday evening where they learned more about Lewis County's landfill and the impact they can have.
"Until we get everybody on board, it won't work," Timmie Hinson said of recycling. "But if everybody will kick in, it will lighten our loads. It will help tremendously. I'm all for it," he concluded.
Tell us about your recycling efforts with an email to: [email protected]
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