By Susan K. Lamb Riverbend News
Suwannee County Commissioners are struggling with a solid waste problem and taxpayers will soon have to pay more assessment money to try and correct it. This problem began years ago when the board serving at the time awarded the bid for the first solid waste removal for Suwannee County to the current company that provides the solid waste service, Waste Management Inc. of Florida. When bids were called for this year, no other company bid against Waste Management Inc. of Florida. When the county once again sought bids and thought there would be other bidders, Suwannee County Manager Randy Harris said he was surprised when not one of the companies he spoke with sent in a bid.
Years ago, when Suwannee County decided to bid out solid waste removal costs to outside companies for the first time, Waste Management Inc. of Florida put in the lowest bid at the time and, now, according to Harris, has bought out all the competition in this industry close by and can bid anything it likes with no one bidding against it. Thus, Suwannee County is left with deciding how to fix the problem.
Harris said a five year contract was just signed with the company, but the county is looking for long term solutions that provide a greater solution. The county has advantageous items in the agreement, so the county can hopefully find an alternative.
County Commission Chairman Len Stapleton said he’s sick about this situation that will raise the county’s solid waste assessment to taxpayers, but a decision has to be made, because the waste has to be moved to landfills elsewhere meanwhile.
Stapleton told the board and citizens at the Wednesday, July 28, meeting that when you have garbage and the current provider of transport for solid waste buys out the competition, you are at their mercy. “That’s exactly what happened and there’s nothing you can do to change it,” Stapleton said.
Harris said one thing that concerns him is putting waste collection sites near county lines. He suggested the county has folks coming across the county line and putting their waste into Suwannee County collection sites. “We can’t do anything about it.” He suggested one way to stop out of county residents from using local sites is to close those near the county line around the entire county.
Commissioner Travis Land said the board will all catch some grief for making the decisions they have to make on this issue, but a decision has to be made.
Commissioner Franklin White reminded the board it had just given Suwannee Fire Rescue just enough in their budget that day to get by and now this. “It’s not going to stop here,” White said. He suggested $300 as the lowest assessment the first year, with the maximum assessment at $493.05 with partial refunds not allowed (for people who only stay for a short time each year on property they own in the county and want refunds on the assessments). The other four board members agreed on these numbers and not to allow refunds. The current solid waste assessment is currently $130 and was quickly putting the county into the hole, Harris said. County taxpayers will now pay $300 per year beginning the first year under the increase. That increase will be in the 2021-2022 budget, which begins Friday, Oct. 1.
Harris thanked the board for its efforts to work out this issue. “I appreciate all of your efforts. We are trying to do what we can,” he added of his office.
Commissioners spoke further, expressing their disappointment in having to raise any taxes. “I think we did what is necessary and I hope ya’ll are not too mad at us,” White said.
Commissioner Clyde Fleming agreed. “I thank the public for coming out and listening. Sometimes you have to make tough choices,” he said. “This too shall pass. It may cost us, my phone is going to get blown up tonight, but I’ll do the best I can do.”
“I just echo what they said,” Land stated. “I hope you guys know we have our backs against the wall. I wish we could do better, but I don’t think we can,” he said.
“You guys have said it all,” Commissioner Don Hale said. Citizens coming to meetings, getting up and speaking is what the board needs to make these decisions. “We’re going to figure out a way,” Hale told the audience.
“There is really nothing else to say, but everyone on this board is upset about having to do an increase, but there’s nothing else we can do,” Chairman Stapleton stated. “These people have just got us and we have to do what is necessary. Those things cost money, we’re here for each one of you, but we’re going to leave here and continue to fight for you,” he told the audience.