MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Although it’s not known at this time how much household garbage rates are going to up in Baldwin County this year, one thing seems certain — there will be an increase.

A price hike was one of the points of discussion at a Solid Waste Committee meeting held on Jan. 10.

There has been no residential garbage increase in the county since 2009, according to McMullen.

In attendance were the two county commissioners who serve on the solid waste committee, Tommy French and Johnny Westmoreland, as well as County Manager Ralph McMullen. Others in attendance included County Finance Director Dawn Hudson, County Clerk Cindy Cunningham, Cindy Bush and County Attorney David McRee.

McMullen told the full board of county commissioners at Tuesday night’s commission meeting that members of the Solid Waste Committee recommend that monthly household garbage pickup service go be raised from $13.50 to $16.50.

Commissioners did not take any action on the committee’s recommendation.

McMullen said he wanted commissioners to think about each of the recommendations made during that meeting and that they would need to study them before taking action.

Commissioners are expected to make a decision regarding the increase and six other recommendations in the near future.

The other six proposed recommendations include:

• requiring all residents to participate in the garbage door-to-door pickup service. There will be no opt-outs, and the garbage service provider will not be paid for opt-outs.

• Eliminating second residence exemptions. If there is an active water account, the residence will be billed.

• Not allowing vacant house exemptions. If there is an active water account, it will be billed. Only if a home is deemed uninhabitable or dilapidated will there be any exceptions, and then it has to have been signed off on by the county code enforcement officer.

• No landlord exemptions. If there is an active water account, the residence will be billed.

• Requiring all garbage pickup service from mobile home parks and apartment complexes be stopped. It is required by the Baldwin County Land Use Code that the owners of such properties be responsible for waste collections.

• Moving from a five-year contract to a three-year contract with the garbage service provider.

When it comes to mobile home parks and apartment complexes, McMullen told commissioners and others at Tuesday night’s meeting that the county land use code states that trash collection is the responsibility of the property owner.

“Mobile home parks are another area where we are having issues,” the county manager said. “We’re having issues where the trash trucks can’t access them, the trucks are too large and are tearing up the park’s lots, etc., etc.”

He pointed out that there is a tremendous amount of turnover that ultimately results in county staff issues.

“We remove (garbage) carts, take them back and remove carts about a dozen times a year at some of these residences,” McMullen said.

The county manager said the owner of mobile home parks and apartment complexes would be responsible for getting in touch with a garbage service provider to pick up residential trash from his or her properties, if the proposed recommendation is approved.

Commissioners have to decide what to do between now and the time the recommendations come back to them for a vote because of a pending new contract that has to be approved between the county and Advance Waste Disposal Services.

Commissioner Emily Davis voiced concern over the proposed monthly rate increase.

“I’m going to tell you one point I have now,” Davis said. “It’s the price jumping $3, because if you’re going to have no exemptions for second residents, then that’s going to add some money to it.”

Davis said she understands that the price of things goes up from time to time.

County officials are working hard to get some changes made so they can get the contract renewed with the same company.

“I think everybody is in agreement that our original contract was too thick; it had too much stuff in it that was — I don’t know if you want to call it outdated or what,” McMullen said.

The county manager said the contract was drafted by the county attorney.

“We sent it to Advance and then Advance, somewhat filled in the blanks,” McMullen said.

A review of all costs associated with the contract are currently under review.

“Right now, this is not the finished contract,” McMullen told committee members and others at last week’s meeting. “We still have a number of [internal issues].”

One of the biggest concerns is the rate increase, though.

“The staff is recommending $16.50,” McMullen said. “Also Advance is asking in their contract starting in 2018 to get a 3 percent CPI per year and each year after that. So, if that happens, we need to at least increase the contract to an average of about $0.50 to a dollar each year after that.”

McRee said the last garbage rate increase in the county came in 2009.

“The staff, even at that time, recommended $14.50, but the board approved $13.50,” McMullen said, noting that is where the fee has stood ever since.