The Repton Town Council talked trash Tuesday night.
The subject was debated because many citizens are unhappy with Conecuh County's decision to increase garbage rates.
Between 20 and 30 people attended the called meeting in Town Hall to discuss how the town will handle the rate increase. Mayor Scott Dees distributed a letter sent to residents from Andalusia-based City Environmental Services Inc.
The letter said the county commission had awarded a residential garbage-collection service contract to the company. As part of the new contract, rates will rise from $9.02 to $15.31 per week, which comes to $45.93 per quarter and includes a 95-gallon cart.
The letter also sets a July 1 deadline for customers to pay the first quarterly fee.
The letter stated: "Conecuh County will soon begin the process of enforcing the mandatory residential garbage collection for all county residents and we would like to give you this opportunity to sign up for the service before any contact with the County Health Department becomes necessary."
Dees said the increase is too high and he wanted to discuss the town's options. "I'm blessed to have a decent job, but this is more than I can pay," he said.
Dees said the town has three options. The first is to accept the county's plan, which he said is unacceptable. The second would be to contract with Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI), which Dees said the town may want to consider.
He said BFI could pick up Repton's residential trash for $10.05 per month, per customer. The town would be responsible for billing, which Dees said would raise the cost by a dollar. If BFI provided a container for each customer, it would drive the cost up to $13.55 per month.
BFI presently provides garbage-collection service to Monroeville and Frisco City.
The next option would be for Repton to purchase a garbage truck and begin picking up its own trash. Dees said he likes this idea best.
"I feel it's time for us, as a town, to become self-sufficient," he said.
Repton could purchase a small garbage truck for around $31,000. It would cost the town $23 to dump one ton of trash at the Timberlands landfill outside Brewton. He said with truck payments, insurance, tipping fees and other expenses, the town could provide service for $11 a month.
To get started, it would take an initial $33 fee from customers. DeesŐ plan, if it works, is to refund $22 of that fee at the end of one year.
Citizens told the council at the meeting that they are angry over the rate increase and liked the idea of the town providing the service. Most said they supported the plan.
Jerry Waters said he had figured up the cost and "it would be foolish for us not to let [Dees] try."
Dees, saying he wants to ensure a majority of residents agree, asked those assembled how they felt. The only people who spoke up said they were in favor of the plan. Councilman Willie James Nicholson said he believes the plan is good.
"I don't see why we can't afford our own garbage truck as well as Excel," he said. Excel provides garbage pickup service to its water customers.
Councilman Rance English made a motion to purchase a garbage truck and begin service by July 3. Nicholson seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Dees said the deadline to pay the initial $33 fee is July 15. Service is set to begin July 3, a Wednesday, but the normal pickup day will be Thursday. The garbage service fee will appear as an $11 charge on water bills.