By GINA KINSLOW
CAVE CITY — Cave City City Council members spent most of Monday night talking trash.
Their discussion led to a decision to sell all 70 of the city’s dumpsters and to increase residential garbage rates.
The council voted five to one to sell the dumpsters because the city was not making money by placing them throughout the city.
“The income and expenses aren’t quite there,” said Roger Scott, maintenance supervisor.
Scott reported the city is losing more than $200 per month on the project.
The city paid $55,000 for the dumpsters. Twenty-four of the garbage receptacles are currently being used, and of that number, only 20 are generating revenue.
“If nonpayment is the problem, we ought to pick them up anyway,” said councilman Dwayne Hatcher.
The city still owes $32,000 for the dumpsters.
Scott told council members he has been in contact with a man who is interested in buying them for $35,000.
At first, the council discussed selling the receptacles to the interested party, but city attorney Bobby Richardson informed the council it needed to sell them by sealed bid.
The council will consider the bids for approval at 4 p.m. on Feb. 9, which is the council’s next regularly scheduled meeting.
It also approved on first reading an ordinance to increase residential garbage rates after Mayor Bob Hunt pointed out the city has not raised rates since it began curbside service more than a decade ago.
The current rate for residential garbage pickup is $12 per month. Once the ordinance goes into effect, the cost will be $14 per month for senior citizens and $15 per month for non-senior citizens.
It costs the city between $12.50 to $20 per ton to dump garbage at the landfill in Glasgow.
The mayor pointed out the landfill has increased its rates twice without the rate increase being passed on to city’s garbage customers.
Hunt explained there aren’t many ways a city can generate revenue, aside from taxes and fees for city services.
“We could have raised property taxes, but we saw not to,” he said. “We’re not out to gouge anyone for revenue.”
But the “city is in a bind on revenue,” he said.
Councilman Mike Houchens was hesitant about increasing the residential garbage rates.
“I hate to raise anything on anybody, period,” he said.
But the council voted unanimously on first reading for the increase.
It is expected to approve the ordinance on second reading at its Feb. 9 meeting.
