Henderson said he could save $12,000 a year using his own disposal service.
“The cost I pay now is approximately $1,200 to 1,300 a month,” he said. “For the exact same service, if I were to take care of it myself through Veolia (Environmental Services) or whoever else, it would be approximately $250.”
The city’s ordinance requires every residence to participate in the service “unless proof can be provided that they have secured a disposal permit through the Health Department as provided by law.”
Henderson said he has taken the necessary steps for a Certificate of Exception from the Alabama Department of Public Health and only needs the city’s OK to obtain it.
“I have been in contact with the Health Department,” he said. “I’ve given them my plan. You have to put together a plan to show how you’re going to dispose of it and all that stuff. We’ve done that. They have approved the permit. They actually issued it accidentally and then withdrew it because the city of Sylacauga has to sign off on it.”
City Council President Jim Heigl said Henderson could bring the issue before the city when its contract with Veolia ends in December of next year.
“We’ve got an exclusive contract with Veolia,” Heigl said. “If you drop off, the city is going to have to pay your part until 2013 when the contract ends. If you drop off, we’ve got 50-something other apartment communities that could probably follow suit, and this city would have to pick up every bit of that because we are under exclusive contract.”
Henderson said he spoke with Veolia, and they said they could remove the two dumpsters at his 80-apartment complex if the city requested it. He also said he is willing to pay the back charges for disposal if it means saving money in the future.
“I’ll pay a year and a half in back disposals, because that’s how much difference the cost is,” he said. “If I could do the dumpster myself, that’s $12,000 a year I save, and it says right here in the ordinance I can do that.”
Heigl said any further discussion of the matter should involve the city attorney. The council denied consideration of Henderson’s initial request for exemption at its July 5 meeting.
Also, the council plans to address a paving issue on Cloverdale Drive after residents complained about piles of large gravel left along the sides of the street when it was repaved earlier this year.
“That is a residential area out there,” Cloverdale resident Dave Sanders told the council. “People mow all the way up to the street. There is no way I can mow all the way up to the street without sending (gravel) across the yard. Something needs to be done.”
Mayor Sam Wright suggested that the council consider putting any additional funds spent on paving towards a solution.
The council meets tonight at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Contact Emily Adams at eadams@dailyhome.com.
