After much debate about how the city’s garbage collection efforts have failed and who’s to blame, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen hired a private company to take over the service.
The board voted 3-2 during a special call meeting Monday to hire Waste Pro to begin collecting garbage for the city. Mayor Diane Delaware, Ward 4 Alderman Aubry Brent Jr. and Ward 3 Alderman Rev. Gregory Robertson voted in favor of a three-year contract with Waste Pro.
Ward 1 Alderman Ron Johnson and Ward 4 Alderman Dr. Jack Varner voted against hiring the private company.
Delaware said that she believes hiring Waste Pro was the wisest choice considering the available options, and she expects garbage collection services to improve significantly soon.
Yazoo City’s current garbage collection employees will have an opportunity to apply for jobs with Waste Pro if they can pass the required background checks. Delaware said Waste Pro will actually pay higher salaries than the city.
Before the board agreed to hire Waste Pro, there was much discussion about the current problems with the city’s garbage collection.
Public Works Director Walter Williams said that he did not have the equipment needed to do the job.
“I’ve been asking for equipment sine I started this job, and everybody knows it,” Williams said. “Everybody is aware that we have junk.”
Delaware said that Williams has not done the things required to obtain new trucks, and she doesn’t believe the existing trucks are being properly maintained.
She also pointed out that the board had ordered public works to run three shifts until the city caught up on garbage collection, but only two shifts were being used.
