Citizens from District 4 in the county came before the Sunflower County Board of Supervisors to ask for a solid waste pickup schedule and to express concerns about waste management’s service.
“We have been more than three weeks without service,” Cathryn McRee said. “We have been months without service.”
McRee also expressed concern for the elderly and disabled in the community.
“Then they don’t have anyone to take it out, and they don’t have anyone to take it out because the big garbage is already at the road,” McRee said.
County Administrator Dr. Gloria McIntosh told the citizens their pickup day was Monday.
“I know that has not been happening, but we are desperately trying,” McIntosh said.
District 1 Supervisor Glenn Donald reassured the citizens that the county had their best interests at heart.
“Anytime you change drivers, that new driver is not gonna know the county,”
Donald said.” “Sunflower County is 60 miles long and almost 30 miles wide. It is difficult, and we didn’t know how difficult it was until we got in it.”
The county has discussed difficulties retaining qualified drivers for its solid waste program during previous meetings, including this past October.
The county has been without a solid waste manager for about two weeks.
At the last supervisors meeting, previous Solid Waste Manager Keon McCloud resigned. Since his resignation, Road Manager TJ Fairley has filled those duties. The county conducted interviews for the position this week.
The county had a candidate present at the last meeting, former Indianola Police Chief Markricus “Bo” Hibbler, but the board decided to advertise the position first and interview candidates.
“TJ now is the road manager. He knows where Bolivar county is and where Sunflower county line starts,” said Donald. “He knows where every house is. He just started this two weeks ago so if we could just give him a chance for another couple of weeks, I truly believe he and Dr. McIntosh working together… I believe it is gonna work.”
