FABRIZIO GOWDY
Gadsden County News Service
The Sneads Town Council voted unanimously April 15 to hold public hearings to consider increasing fees for solid waste collection and mosquito spraying.
According to city manager Bill Rentz, the town has not increased solid waste fees in a couple years and has lost a modest sum last year on commercial garbage collection. Currently, residents are charged $22 per month for weekly pickup of one cart, while the commercial rate for business is $68 per month for a two-yard dumpster picked up weekly.
The town is proposing raising the monthly residential fee by a dollar and increasing the two-yard dumpster rate to $75. Rentz claimed the town has conducted a study, and the proposed rate increase would make Sneads’ fees about the same as most other nearby municipalities.
Councilwoman Kay Neel stated that the town does eventually plan to explore garbage collection providers other than the current provider, Waste Pro.
“Once the contract is up, we plan on shopping around for the best prices,” Neel said.
Council members also voted to hold a public hearing for the purpose of raising fees for mosquito spraying.
The town currently charges just 50 cents for the service, but Rentz claims supplies alone cost $10,000 annually—which doesn’t include gas and overtime. Last year, the 50-cent fee brought in just $4,400, which is why the council is proposing increasing the spraying fee to $1.50.
“We have the only guy in the area with a mosquito spray license, and it’s not easy to get one,” Rentz told the council.
Both public hearings will be held at next month’s town council meeting.
Election results
In the April 14 municipal election, Neel defeated challenger “Pug” Charles with 61% of votes cast—123 to 78. Charles ran a campaign almost singularly focused on preventing the Sneads Police Department from being eliminated.
Neel thanked all those who voted for her, and chided critics who “hide behind Facebook.” She encouraged residents to contact her any time, claiming her number is “everywhere.”
Fellow incumbent Tim Perry won reelection unopposed. Both Perry and Neel will be sworn in for another two-year term at the May council meeting.
In other business:
- The council unanimously authorized the purchase of a new $60,000 bypass pump. Council members agreed with Rentz’s assessment that purchasing a pump was more cost effective than paying $2,000 per month to rent one.
- Council members heard an update on planned $4.3 million drainage improvements intended to reduce flooding on the north side of town, which is currently 75% through the planning process. According to Gene Nobles with DHM Melvin Engineering, there will be substantial construction which residents may find disruptive and frustrating, but the improvements are badly needed.
- The council unanimously approved an annual consulting contract for engineering services by DHM Melvin, whose services are billed hourly and are mostly grant-funded.
- Sneads recently completed its water tank inspection and cleaning required every five years by the Department of Environmental Protection. According to Rentz, the tanks were very clean and the process went smoothly.
Councilman Mike Weeks missed Wednesday’s meeting because of car problems. The next town council meeting will be May 12 at 5 p.m.
