Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

City asking residents to reduce garbage

The City of Gurdon is seeking cooperation from citizens in following garbage pick-up rules in an attempt to lessen the chances of another price increase at contract renewal time this August.

Tambra Childres, recorder and treasurer, said Wednesday, "We had a dollar increase to our customers a few months ago because of an increase in tipping fees over in Arkadelphia.

"I don't want to see us have to go up again because our citizens are abusing the system."

According to Childres, A&M Trash Service, of Little Rock, is scheduled to sign another three-year contract with Gurdon in August and owner Mike Cherry said he is having to make three runs through Gurdon per week, over the past few months, instead of the agreed upon two loads because of too many people having more than the five-bag limit at the curb.

Mayor Clayton Franklin met with Cherry about possibly raising the charge to pick up.

"Our people know there can be no trash bins or barrels and the trash has to either be set outside by the curb in bags or the bags placed in a regular trash container," Childres said.

"We hear that the bins stop the dogs from tearing up trash. Amonia is said to discourage the dogs.

"Besides, we have an animal control officer. Call the City Hall and ask us for Matt Dickerson. He will come and take care of the dogs."

Childres said the city has no cure for cats in the garbage.

She said there have been cases of up to 20 bags in front of one household and landlords report more than one family in a single dwelling.

"If we know there are two families living there, the water and sewer bill will go up accordingly," she said. "We've also had cases of trash being hauled to town from the county to be picked up."

Childres said all the city is asking is for the garbage pick-up system rules to be adhered to "so we can get this back to two loads consistently and not incur an increase."

She said the city is charged by the ton.

"If you own rental property here and you are cleaning out a house after renters leave, call the city," Childres said. "There will be an extra charge for the large number of bags but at least they will get hauled away and we won't feel like any rules have been violated."

She said citizens may be OK with six or seven bags once in awhile, but the abuse of having 10-20 bags must stop. There is also a weight limit of 30 pounds per bag.

And they must be up to the curb. Trash haulers are not expected to go up by the porch or somewhere else to retrieve bags.

Childres said A&M Trash Service wants the Cabe Addition residents to realize their garbage is now being picked up on Wednesday morning early. It needs to be at the curb by 6:30 a.m., or set out the night before.

"If your trash is not being picked up, our haulers are putting tags on it as to why  whether its because you have a bin or its not next to the curb," Childres said. "They are trying to let people know what to do to get service."

Childres said A&M has not said they will go up for sure in August and so now is the time for the citizens of Gurdon to show the haulers there can be a spirit of cooperation and keep the garbage rates down.