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City addresses complaints about trash service

Cans left in streets, driveways pose dangers

Justin Addison, Editor/Publisher
Posted 8/16/22

Members of the Fayette city council last week discussed issues with the weekly trash pickup. Complaints have arisen around the placement of trash cans after they have been emptied on Monday mornings. …

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City addresses complaints about trash service

Cans left in streets, driveways pose dangers

Posted

Members of the Fayette city council last week discussed issues with the weekly trash pickup. Complaints have arisen around the placement of trash cans after they have been emptied on Monday mornings. Cans are often left in roadways and in the middle of driveway entrances by trash collectors.

Last year the city contracted with RTS Waste Services, LLC, out of rural Slater. The company began waste pickup on June 1, 2021. In July of this year, as per the contract, the charge for households in Fayette increased by one dollar to $14.50 per month for waste pickup. 

During the council’s July 12 meeting, this writer brought the issue to the city’s attention regarding trash cans left in driveways and in the roadways on Corprew and Church streets.

The council further discussed similar complaints from other constituents at its latest meeting on Tuesday, August 9.

“On Corprew, Lawrence Drive, and Church Street, we’ve had several concerns about our trash cans,” said Northwest Ward Alderwoman Michelle Ishmael.

Of significant concern are main thoroughfares such as Church and Morrison streets. Church Street, which is Highway 240, is of particular concern due to how narrow the street is and the near-constant presence of large tractor trailers that barrel through town.

Danny Dougherty, The city’s director of public works, said it was very noticeable last week. “It was really bad this Monday. They were all on Church Street,” he said.

Mayor Jeremy Dawson explained that city utility employees are in communication with RTS every trash day. “We have been on the phone with RTS every single Monday for at least an hour— if not pushing two hours—about issues and sending them back to streets to pick up cans. We’re at least having conversations with them. Whether that’s getting done…we haven’t heard much on the backside of that.”

When the city contracted with RTS for trash pickup, owner David Kruger told the city that someone would stop in at City Hall every Monday before the crew left town to ensure the service was satisfactory. But those Monday check-ins have not occurred.

Mayor Dawson said he will request that the driver make those check-ins at City Hall so that problems can be directly reported to him, rather than going through the company’s dispatch.

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