The Grovetown City Council approved the increase of its garbage collection rates in its monthly meeting on Monday, its first meeting after a municipal election in which Councilwomen Deborah Fisher and Sylvia Martin both regained their seats.
Finance Director Bradley Smith noted before the council that the city’s waste collection service provider, Waste Management, has raised its rates, and so the city was also seeking to raise its solid waste and recycling collection waste.
Smith also noted that the rate has not been increased since 2008.
“It seems a little steep, but your contract runs out, you don’t have a lot of options,” said Councilwoman Deborah Fisher regarding the resolution. “I think this is a good choice. It’s the best choice that we have.”
The new rates are to be $20.50 per month for single residential cans, and same amount each additional can. Recycling cans will be $10.50 each. Civic and church garbage cans will be $5 per month. The resolution for the increase will be effective Jan. 1, 2022.
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The council also voted to change the leave accrual rate for city employees. The Leave Accrual Committee had examined concerns that new and short tenured employees were not receiving sufficient leave. The committee then discovered that legacy employees had not been able to take vacation leave they’re earning. Therefore, the committee proposed changes that included increased accrual hours and changes to the calendar.
The proposal included an increase of 80 hours per year for regular employees who had worked between zero and 10 years; 120 hours for those who had worked 11 to 20 years; and 160 hours for those who had worked 21 years and over. The cap proposed for vacation leave all employees was 360 hours per years.
The proposal also opted to eliminate the personal holiday and instead adopt Columbus Day and Juneteenth as permanent city holidays.
The proposal was approved unanimously.
As Mayor Gary Jones was not present at the meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Eric Blair officially proclaimed Nov. 27, 2021 as Small Business Saturday, to encourage citizens to shop local merchants and boost the city’s economy.
Russell Lahodny, president of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, spoke before the council to express appreciation to the city for a day to honor and promote small businesses.
“It’s a very special day where we get to celebrate our homegrown businesses,” said Lahodny. “You’re not only supporting your friends, your family and your neighbors, but you’re also supporting your community.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
