The Sunflower County Board of Supervisors commended Solid Waste Clerk Tancy Walters during Monday’s session for collecting $5,395.30 in arrears on delinquent accounts.
However, complaints are still coming in from residents with regard to the quality of service from the county’s garbage collection service. Resourceful Environmental Services customers are reporting that their garbage is not being picked up for sometimes weeks at a time.
Attorney Johnny McWilliams said the contract is coming up for renewal in March and they will be considering bids from other companies at that time.
Martha Hoffman, a Charlie Ellis Road resident told the E-T that she only had one garbage pickup during the month of September and has not had one since the first week in October. She also noted occasions when the garbage trucks have completely passed up her residence.
Hoffman said she pays her solid waste bill annually at the beginning of the year and that it is not right for her to pay for services she doesn’t receive. She has contacted the supervisor for her district, Anthony Clark, on several occasions and Clark said he has had marked success getting in touch with RES.
On Monday he acknowledged having had conversations with residents and with the manager of RES. Clark said, “We just try to do the best we can. Sometimes he (the manager) sends some body else out to alleviate the problem, but sometimes it’s more than just a call.”
Clark added, “We just try to keep the constituents calm.” He stressed that he feels their frustration, is aware of the payment concern and he agrees with customers who feel as if they are due reimbursement for services they did not receive.
Board President Glenn Donald said on Monday that they have spoken to the manager of the company and that the collection service has had several issues including new drivers who are not familiar with the route, truck breakdowns and more. But he put forth that when you call the company about the problem they usually address them.
However, County Administrator Gloria McIntosh offered a different opinion, “Sometimes, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes we get calls from the same constituents over and over and over and Ms. Walters talks to them (RES) and I talk to them and they still don’t pick it up,” she said.
Donald said any residents who are having issues with their garbage being picked up should call the courthouse and speak to Walters about it. He said when contacted RES would usually send out a pickup truck to do the collection.
He further asserted that if a person’s garbage is accumulating without being collected, “Before you let any garbage stay for over a week, call the road department, they’ll go pick it up and dump it and bring it back,” he said.
He too acknowledged that it was unfair for the residents to pay and not receive the service. He added that the county has had problems with every garbage collection company they have used.
The supervisors affirmed that the customers have a right to the services they pay for but said they are not choosing sides because there could be some extenuating circumstances.
