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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

Now that the Maplesville Town Council has notified LDI of ending the current contract for garbage pickup in November, attention has turned to finding an alternate solution.

Town Clerk Dawn Smitherman brought a copy of the current contract to the May 9 meeting for council members to review and recommend changes that they would like to have included, if the service is bid out again.

Council member Patty Crocker said bid packets need to be sent out soon.

Mayor W.C Hayes said he is also looking into getting a one-person truck to use in town.

Crocker said she did not want the town to get back into the garbage pickup industry.

“I don’t think that is a good idea,” Crocker said. “We did that before, and it was trouble finding someone to work on it and it was always breaking down. I’m not sure we need to go that route.”

The mayor said he already had people willing to run the truck.

“We haven’t budgeted for that,” Crocker said.

She also asked who would handle the billing. Hayes said they would have to get someone.

Hayes wants to lower the cost for residents from $30 a month and use a company that will take its trash to the transfer station in Thorsby.

Smitherman said if the town wants to require the garbage be taken to the transfer station in Thorsby, it needs to be in the contract.

How some cities in the county handle garbage pickup was also discussed as a comparison.

Also, during the meeting,

• The council approved the 90 day raise for a police officer.
• Maplesville Volunteer Fire and Rescue requested the removal of dead trees from the yard of a house the department had purchased. Hayes said he would look into it.
• Hayes gave an update in the progress of the storm shelter for Shanks Drive. The concrete pad has been poured. The building will come prebuilt and be welded to four supports.
• The council received an update on increases to the health insurance the city offers to employees. A portion is paid by the town, and the employee pays the rest. The employee only premium is set to increase $50.44 on July 1. Increases for health coverage covering the employee and family members are higher than that. Smitherman said she was presenting the information, so the council could think about if it wanted to increase the portion of the coverage that the town pays.