Georgia county commissioners approve new solid waste contract

The Baldwin County Board of Commissions in Georgia approved a new solid waste contract at its Oct. 2 meeting, a report by the Union Recorder says. Commissioners proposed a rate increase in June that would only take effect if an new solid waste contract was put in place between the county and its garbage services provider Advanced Disposal Services Middle Georgia branch in Milledgeville.

The proposed increase from $13.50 to $15 will offset increased costs by Advanced Disposal, the report says. Dawn Hudson, Baldwin County finance director, says in the report that the county is losing $14,000 per month. The county had not increased the rate since 2009.

The contract will run from Oct. 15, 2017, to Oct. 14, 2022. According to the report, Advanced Disposal will provide 95-gallon rollout carts to residents within the county and provide once per week curbside garbage collection.

Part of the contract expresses both parties’ agreement that “the current board of commissioners as presently constituted cannot bind future boards,” the report says. A part of the contract states, “the parties to this agreement expressly acknowledge and agree that this agreement shall terminate automatically upon the expiration of 120 days from the date of swearing-in for a commissioner, whether an incumbent or newly elected commissioner during the term of this agreement, unless the agreement is ratified by the new board of commissioners within 120 days of the date such new commissioner is sworn in.”