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Google"The question is -- where do we get new revenue?" Craig asked the city council at the budget meeting Thursday night. He went on to say that one thing Shelbyville does not do that "almost everybody else does" is charge for garbage collection.
The garbage collection fee would be used to pay for a new collection system, one using a style of truck that council members referred to as "one-armed bandits" and only require one person to operate. That would eliminate four jobs, said Craig, at a savings of $150,000, but those people would not be terminated.
"We will absorb them in that department by attrition," he said. "Right now, the street department is three people short."
Over a period of time, he added, the workers would be taken into other departments as jobs became available due to people retiring, quitting or being terminated.
How it works
According to the proposal, the city of Shelbyville currently uses two rear-loader trash collection trucks operated by a three-man team to pick up solid waste from approximately 6,800 residential customers. Apartments and trailer parks are provided with three dumpsters, serviced weekly; more than 200 businesses that use no more than the four 34-gallon trash containers also have their waste picked up weekly.
The city isn't charging any of these customers for the service, and the proposed 2010 sanitation budget is $774,199, with $1,500 in revenue and $775,699 in expenses.
Under the proposed plan, the city would provide residences with specially-designed, 96-gallon trash receptacles.
"The trash containers are provided by and are the property of the city," the proposal stated. "They remain with the house when it is sold. Replacement or additional containers can be purchased by the customer."
Residents in trailer parks and apartments would have their own containers -- and their own fees on their power bills.
The automated system would also save money for the city in another area, Craig said.
"The highest rate of workers' compensation is sanitation," he said. "So we'll reduce that as well."
The new trucks would be able to serve 50 percent more households per day, he said, and the containers would give the city a neater appearance. The containers are wheeled, and easy to maneuver.
"There's always the 'little old lady' question," said Craig. "Can the little old lady get the can to the road? Yes. If not, we'll see that it gets there."
Price tag
Implementing the program won't be cheap. Craig said the cost of two trucks and approximately 8,000 containers would cost about $1 million, with the trucks costing $250,000 each and the containers $60 each. The city would have to borrow the funds, but Craig told the council that with an estimated $63,000 monthly revenue from the fee, balanced against the TML loan payments, depreciation, and operating expenses, the net cost to the city for garbage collection would be $5,928 a month, or $71,133 a year -- compared to the $774,109 that has been budgeted for 2010.
"A $9 fee would cover virtually all of our sanitation costs," said Craig.
Councilman Al Stephenson asked the other council members if they would be interested in earmarking the saved revenue for the intent of purchasing industrial property and most indicated they would.
"I don't mind paying $9 extra a month if it means we can get some industrial property," he said. "I believe this is cheaper than more taxes."
Councilwoman Kay Rose agreed.
"In the long run, it's going to bring us more jobs," she said.
MTAS report
Craig gave the council members copies of an MTAS report on the issue, as well as a fee comparison with other cities that have already implemented the program. Except for Tullahoma, which does not charge a garbage fee, the fees in other cities range from $9.20 (Pulaski) to $13.43 (Manchester).
Craig said he anticipates questions from the public about the issue, "but there are answers to all of them."
For instance, he said, anyone on a low-income-based tax relief program would not be required to pay the additional fee.
Craig said the automated system could be in place by January and that one company they are considering, Stringfellow, produces excellent educational material about the system and works with residents to get them used to the concept.
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I once lived in a city that had this type of system, (although we had many alleyways where the unsightly garbage cans were stored) the problem was that we were only allowed a certain amount of cans, and people who seem to go through a lot of garbage, (people with young kids, especially in diapers) had issues with garbage piling up.
How do you get rid of four people but not get rid of them and save $150,000? I mean, if they are still employed then you are still paying them unless those four individuals are making a lot of money and then go to a very low rate of pay when transferred to another job.
I am confused by the math here . . . did I read it wrong? Anyway, I am sure that people will be joyous to see another extra fee show up on their utility bill. I guess 95% of working families are seeing their taxes go up.
Why didnt this take place before they bought the last new garbage trucks a year or so back?
Too funny: "We will absorb them in that department by attrition," he said. "Right now, the street department is three people short."
How can you be short when I see 8 standing around watching one or two work. I also see multiple city trucks running around the same neighborhood in the same morning like they are just riding the streets. May be they need to control the waste spending and do a better job of using what they have, we all are having to make cuts but the city wants us to pay more? Dont get me wrong the labor savings of using that garbage pickup system is a great ideal that should have been done long ago. But charging $9.00 per house hold per month, what is our city taxes that we pay already going to?
I'm for it. HAve been wanting them to go to this sytem for a long time. This is what Murfreesboro has and it works well. That one large container holds alot and you won't have different containers that get blown all over the neighborhood during a storm.
This is a backdoor tax hike and they hope you are not paing attention, and obviously from the responses so far, no one is.
If this is such a good system and will save the city money why doe we need to pay an extra $9? Oh, to pay for the initial capital outlay for the equipment and containers..... Is there a plan to remove the $9 once they are paid for? NO.
Pay attention here,
"Councilman Al Stephenson asked the other council members if they would be interested in earmarking the saved revenue for the intent of purchasing industrial property and most indicated they would. "
This is not being proposed to improve the garbage pickup or to save money. It is just a way for them to get you to pay for the garbage pickup while shifting the tax dollars you are currently paying for this service to other areas.
This is equivalent to your property taxes going up $ 108.00 per year. We need to fight this tooth and nail.
We have 3 containers at my house and most of the time we have to put 2 of them out their, every now and then we use all 3 of them. So if I have to purchase extra cans are they going to run $60.00 each? This truck is actually going to pick the trash cans up and dump it, and put it back on the side of the road with out making a mess?
I hope our city is not digging a money pitt with all it's spendings on new and so-called improve things, especially with lack of jobs, and debts our economy is already in. I hope it is "really a money saving situation".
Momof3&3step&1gran.... These are specaily made trash containers that the city would own and provide. The trash truck has a "hook" that picks up the container, dumps it and then places the container back on the ground. We had these when I lined in M'boro and they work really well. The containers are 96 gallons. All three of yours combined don't equal that.
sameoldstory . . . so do these containers stay permanently in your front yard or can you move them around to say the garage or back yard and etc. I am just wondering since I have never seen these before and since you have I though I would ask . . . sounds like an eyesore because I cant imagine too many people moving around 96 gallon containers a lot. I don't know . . . I could be wrong?
Also, PoorMe does make a valid point. Why would they earmark this for industrial property when they claim they are losing money and that's why they need to charge the fee?
We have this system in Tullahoma. The containers are on wheels and easy to maneuver -- my youngest has been taking it to the road since he was 6. You can then store them out of sight until pick up day.
The sooner we(the people of Shelbyville) can get Craig out of office, the better the whole town will be. This is another way of collecting more of your money to do what ever they see fit to do with. Al wants more industrial land. Ed will want more one way streets. Where does it end?
sounds like a good idea.
MOST PEOPLR HAVE A LIGHT BILL ALREADY THAT THEY CAN HARDLY PAY. WHY NOT START CHARGING A PICK UP FEE??????????????
This is a good idea BUT people on a fixed income like S.S. and disability can not afford any extra $$$ to spend for things like this.
I think they should NOT be charged for trash pick up at all, give them a break PLEASE!!!!
Mr. Craig, my dad, who I think was much smarter than you said you make do or do with out. Well I have been doing without so you people can make do. What happens when their ain't no mo? The citizens of Shelbyville and Bedford county are not a bottomless money pit that you can dip into at your pleasure.
I just went to a meeting today. For some reason I am a "lucky" person and had my house reassessed for the 2nd time in 4 years.. Oh and next year is reassessment year for EVERYONE.... Just want everyone to know that it don't matter what you can sell your house for... The value is determined by what "It use to be worth". This garbage tax is another "stupid tax". What are they doing with the city tax? If this ideal is so much cheaper then WHY don't they use the savings to pay for the program? 68,000 houses is what I am reading. At 100.00 each that is 680,000 a year. I give them permission to take 100.00 of my city taxes and "PAY" for the new trucks! Maybe buy one truck this year and PAY for it.
ANd to add insult to injury... and I quote Councilwoman Kay Rose agreed.
"In the long run, it's going to bring us more jobs," she said
How is doing away with people working going to bring more jobs? I must of missed the boat or Kay Rose needs to be asked how she came up with that conclusion!
It sound like a good ideal. But I have live at my present address for nine years. I don't put my trash out, because I am handicapped, and not able to get my cans to the street. Then on top of that they don't set them back up. They throw them in the yard and if that not enought they either ben the cans or bust them if they are plastic. I also so live on Social Security and can't afford anymore money to go out each month. My son carries my trash off, so does alot of other people carries there off also. I have seen those garbage cans, my little niece could stand up in one and even close the the top. Also in Manchester they let you used the first can and if it get busted you buy the next. They sure not cheap.
It started out you only could have a can that weigh so much, then it was you was only aloud to have so many, by have many people that live in the household. Sound like the people that supposing to be garbage men are affraid of a little work. They all want to be drivers not workers.
All I ever see are the trucks riding up and down the street, and looking around. I called the other day about some brush, it was binding me from getting out on the street. Almost got hit twice, which I forgot it was Friday and don't work on Friday. But instead having someone come out on the next Monday, we have to wait till brush day come around to be pick up. What more important, having a truck come out to get the brushes or someone maybe getting kill? Which the little dump truck had went by twice that week before Friday, and just look.
I understand the city folks concern for the money aspect, but us country folks don't have garbage pick up, we have to take it to the dump ourselves. We do have an enterprising young person in our area and he picks it up for $10.00 each pick up. I wouldn't mind only paying $9.00 a month for pick up.
They are on wheels and move easily. They are quite large, but with everyone having the same container it will make the street looks better.
As previous bloggers mentioned, this is simply a way to get into our pockets without calling it a tax.
How is this any different than increasing property taxes or adding a wheel tax? It is NOT.
Mr. Stephenson wants industrial property, let's "recycle" some of the vacant buildings and land that are sitting idle since all of the businesses are leaving our town and county.
We keep hearing about the industry prospects we lose because we don't have the right size buildings already ready and waiting for them. What happened to the time when anyone started a business and if there was not already a place suited for them, they built their own? Why does big business get treated any different than small town business? Yes, I understand that it is a plus to any large business to have a city build their plant for them, but at whose expense? OURS!
These companies have enough money to purchase their own land and build their own buildings. If not, they would not be expanding or starting up to begin with.
Well it does sound good but it seems they would still save money even if they didn't increase the amount for garbage pickup and why weren't the three street jobs advertised in the paper? There are so many people out of work.
I have driven through cities where such a system is being used and have noticed how much better it appears that a conglomeration of various types and sizes of containers.
Two things bother me. I don't have a problem with elderly, disabled or truly poor getting some type pf break on the $9 fee for picking up the garbage cans. I very much have a problem with people who can buy drugs and/or liquor yet have me paying their garbage fee. Do you consider it your duty to pay the garage fee for a house with four, five or more cars in the driveway or parked in the yard and a couple of people walking around in that yard talking on their cell phones. Poor by choice doesn't deserve our tax dollars to pay for them. Let slumlords and trsailer parker owners pay the garage fee for their renters.
And, if we go to this fee system there must be some method or requiring people to put their garbage containers out of sight until the day they are collected again rather than decorating their front yards ith them and creating a disturbing sight.
Hey I got an idea, why doesn't the city ENFORCE their current codes on crappy looking lots with trash, debris and jacked up cars with no tags. Why can't they fine those people? Make their money that way instead. How about when people have grass up to the window sills? Why not fine them?
Amen Evil Monkey!!! And they need to get on to the Landlords about their tacky looking rental properties too, especially when their are homeowners in the same neighborhood trying to keep the homes and yards nice.
I think that craig, rose and cuz alllllllll should be kicked out and put them on the garbage pick-up so we can save money.That would get those idots out in the field and see what is going on...
I am so sick of hearing "thats how they do it in Murfreesboro or Tullahoma" If Ed Craig and Mark Clanton like it that way so much why don't they move there and get a job!!!
You go Trouble408
I don't have a problem with this, but I would like this taken a step further. I think it would be great if the city provided one can for recyclable materials and another for your other trash. I think that if recycling was made more convenient, more people would do it. Right now I have 6 recycle containers at home (one for plastics, one for metal, one for aluminum cans, one for newspapers and magazines, one for cadboard and one for glass) and one for other garbage. I started hauling off my recyclables about 5 months ago. I went from three cans of trash a week to 1/2 to 1 can per week.
I haul my materials off about once a month. I take the plastics (1 or 2's) to DSC Sanitation on Cedar King Rd. I take my metal and aluminum to the metals place right across from there (I got around $4.00 for three large bags of food cans and 1 small bag of aluminum cans). I take my newspapers and magazines to either one of the school recycling bins or take them to the Convenience Center in El Bethel when I dump all of my glass. I am one of those that don't mind separating these things because I know I am trying to do my part in helping our environment.
I know it would be expensive to furnish 2 containers per household, but I feel that it is worth it if you are helping our world become a better place.
As far as having the recyclables sorted, this could be done by inmates, those people on welfare that are taking a free ride (I realize that not all people on welfare take advantage, many people need this extra help).
If the city doesn't want to get into the recycling business in this way, it would be great if they would make all Convenience Centers truly convenient. You should be able to dump all of your recyclable materials and trash at the same location. As far as I know, the El Bethel location is the only place you can dump glass containers. Once I stopped by the Convenience Center in Deason because I was headed to Murfreesboro. I thought this would be convenient, but when I asked the worker if I could put my metal food cans in the metal bin he said, "no". He told me to put them in the regular trash compactor. I said, "No thanks, I 'll find somewhere else to take them".
As far as some of the other comments about junked up yards and grass being too tall, these things bother me also. I work hard and try to keep my place looking nice. I could go on and on about this. I have even considered calling in to the city and asking them how many things do you have to have stacked up around your house before you are considered a junk yard? Don't you have to pay additional taxes if you are considered a business such as a junk yard? Ha! Ha! Just had to throw that one in!