A Louisiana man who bought property at Chatawa for a travel trailer asked Pike County supervisors Monday to waive his monthly garbage fees since he doesn’t use the service.
The initial answer was no, but when board attorney Wayne Dowdy learned the owner doesn’t have electricity or water, he said he will research the law.
Nathan Gifford of Tickfaw said he bought property on Spring Creek Lane for a camp. He said he takes what little garbage he produces back home to Tickfaw.
Board president Robert Accardo, formerly of Louisiana himself, said he faced the same situation when he bought land in Pike County years ago as a getaway before eventually becoming a resident.
He said he understands Gifford’s situation, but the law says when people get a 911 address, they have to pay for trash pickup.
County administrator Tami Dangerfield said supervisors in the past haven’t given variances to camp owners.
“I’m afraid it would probably open the door to an avalanche if we did that,” Accardo said.
“If you don’t have garbage pickup, what’s the issue?” Gifford said.
Accardo said Waste Management bills the county according to the number of residences on the 911 list.
“If you got a variance, the other residents would be picking up your expense,” Accardo told Gifford. “Pike County is going to get a bill from Waste Management for your address. I’m sympathetic because I was in your position for years.”
Supervisors said they often hear from people with camps who don’t want to pay garbage fees.
“We do get a lot of complaints,” said Supervisor Lee Fortenberry.
Dowdy said the law requires people who have electrical or water hookups to pay for trash pickup.
“It’s much more that state law than it is with our contract with Waste Management,” Dowdy said.
But when Gifford said he has no hookups, Dowdy said he would like time to research the law. The board meets again at 8 a.m. Nov. 15.
In other business, supervisors:
• Learned from Garrett Smith of Neel-Schaffer that Pike County has received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pick up curbside Hurricane Ida debris in Magnolia, Summit and Osyka, with the towns to foot their share of the cost.
• Heard a presentation from James Moody and Frank Bordeaux of BXS Insurance on health, property and casualty coverage.
• Agreed to pay Orkin $1,400 to treat a termite infestation at the Cooperative Extension Service building.
• Approved payment of September invoices totaling $13,196 to Neel-Schaffer engineering firm.
• Heard from Supervisor Tazwell Bowsky that funds might be available from CN Railroad to spruce up areas along the train tracks. Bowsky said he will meet with McComb officials to look into beautifying the Georgia Avenue viaduct.
• Approved a $326 travel advance for Sheriff James Brumfield to attend a five-day sheriffs’ conference at Biloxi in December.
