Yellow trash bags used by residents for trash pickup by Carroll County Solid Waste was on the docket at the Oct. 9 city council meeting with representatives by CCSW bringing in a blue 35-gallon and green 60-gallon bin to show as an option.
It has been mentioned at past meetings that the use of yellow bags in town was originally to promote recycling by residents. Currently, residents purchase yellow bags either directly from the city or at Harts Family Center. CCSW picks up those bags no matter how many there are.
Representatives of CCSW explained that beyond the yellow bags, two sizes of bins are currently options if residents wish to purchase them, and the city could change to using one of those two sizes.
Of 7-million pounds recycled by CCSW each year, George Boatright, director of CCSW management district, said that a majority of recycling comes from Eureka Springs. Alderman Terry McClung questioned if the city switched to the bins would the recycling amount go down, and Boatright said that he did not believe so, adding that residents clearly want to recycle.
Prices of the bins per month are $28.64 for the green 60-gallon cart and $15.43 for the 35-gallon bin. Mayor Butch Berry asked Director of Public Works Simon Wiley what the cost difference for residents would be if the city swapped to the use of bins. Wiley said that including the cost of bags, the fuel surcharge and pickup cost on residents’ water bills of the 35-gallon bin was comparable to what the charge is currently.
Aldermen discussed whether the city would want to have an upfront cost of purchasing the bins or continue the current agreement where the city purchases about $30,000 worth of bags each year. The city currently makes around $5,000 each year, after the cost of the bags, through a franchise fee to residents through their water bill.
CCSW representatives explained that other cities in the county have a bag limit. Eureka Springs does not have a bag limit. If the city moves away from the yellow bags, they suggested that the city move to “bag tags” for extra bags. They explained that a bag tag in Berryville is around $1.30.
Aldermen discussed what the preference might be, and McClung motioned to have a workshop to design the trash program. The choice to move the discussion to a workshop in the future was unanimous.
Water leak talks downgraded to once a month
Wiley gave a positive report, saying that most water leaks found by the leak detection agency had been patched with exception of one on Echols St., and another at Breezy Point. Regarding smoke testing the water system, Wiley said he is looking to upgrade certain equipment at the sewage plant to better identify what parts of town need to be tested. He explained that testing the entire city would be a far greater cost than certain sections of town.
Aldermen agreed to have the updates move down to once a month rather than at every council meeting. Wiley also said that he will be budgeting for a camera system next year to help the water department detect and find leaks.
Other Items
- A public hearing on the Eureka Springs Transit System was held with Transit Director Kenneth Smith giving information on the year and expectations on costs for the department. Smith explained that operations were covered fully by the Federal Transit Administration, but the department is moving forward expecting costs to only be covered 50 percent as it was before the CARES Act. With total $873,200 expenses budgeted and a budgeted $254,800 in fare revenue, the department will requestion a federal match of $309,200, or half of the leftover cost of expenses for the department in 2024.