New vendor proposal approved for county’s solid waste
News December 4, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – With increasing prices and costs for Gilmer’s Solid Waste Department, negotiations and requests for proposal have come back with Gilmer officially approving Waste Pro out of Ball Ground for the service.
Putting in their own compactors and servicing Gilmer with the hauling away of trash, Waste Pro will begin service in the new year as the county exercised its notification on the current contract to exit. Waste Pro’s proposal for the county included both 4 yard compactors with break away units and 35 yard self contained compactors.
Headquartered in Longwood, Florida, Waste Pro hosts an office in Ball Ground, Georgia.
Just as the county currently uses, the compactors with break away units are filled and replaced as the containers are hauled off. The proposal price from Waste Pro for the 4 yard compactors is $775 per month with 11 units proposed. However, continuing negotiations with Gilmer could see a drop in this proposed price as the proposal is noted that if the county opts for older used units, this price will be reduced.
That note also applies with the 12 proposed 35 yard self-contained compactors in the proposal.
The county is readying for the new year along with its recent approvals for bids for materials as well.
Appalachian Propane was approved for their Propane bid of $1.98 per gallon.
Vulcan Materials was approved for their bid of Crushed Stone at $15.25 per ton among alongside others.
Hudson Materials Company was approved for their bid of Emulsion at $2.05 per gallon of CRS-2H and $2.49 per gallon of CRS-2p with increases based on if delivered and partial or full load.
West Block was approved for their bid on Concrete between $114 and $140 per cubic yard based on mixes at different PSI.
CW Matthews was approved for their bid on Asphalt materials ranging between $60 and $75 per unit based on specifications of the asphalt.
New budget could bring changes to Public Works in 2021
News December 8, 2020
ELLIJAY, Ga. – “The year of Roads and Bridges” is what Gilmer Commissioner Chairman Charlie Paris said he wanted for the 2021 budget in order to improve Public Works. One comment among many as Gilmer’s BOC is still hammering out details for its coming year.
That comment is something that he has done many times over recent years during budget sessions as he has stated that he wanted to focus on getting departments up to par through that extra focus, whether it came through the Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Budget or through the Capital budget.
This year, Some of that extra focus for roads is coming through capital as the county is funding new equipment for the department through capital expenditures and funding almost all of their capital requests along with the county looking to increase Public Works employees pay. Though the Public Works request came for 5 percent, the county looked for ways to maybe increase this a little more, to potentially 8 percent.
On the revenue side, an increase is coming with changes to the weighed trash drop off. Now becoming 14 cents per pound, the rate is similar to surrounding counties, including neighboring Fannin County who Public Works Director Jim Smith says is 12 cents per pound. However, Smith also noted that his requested changes included the elimination of individual charges for items like sofas and appliances. Now, all of that type of construction and demolition trash will follow the 14 cents per pound rate. Additionally, passenger tire disposal went to $5 and larger truck tire disposal went to $12.
If adopted, these changes go into place January 1, 2021.
Another point of note in the budget came as Paris pointed out the county is currently repaying its TAN at around $400k. In previous years, the county has been excited that the TAN has been pushing further back for use. However, they have yet to completely negate the need for a TAN as was their hope. However, in recent years that TAN has been more akin to a $1.5 million repayment.
While Paris and Sandi Holden, Gilmer’s Financial Officer, attributed some of this difference to CARES ACT funding coming for capital expenses and the way it is handled, Paris said that this wouldn’t make the entire million dollar difference they have. Additionally, the county has received additional funds this year through sales tax in LOST and SPLOST for parts of the budget as well.
Paris said the county would know next year just how much this number has been affected by unusual circumstances as to how much it mirrors this year’s $400,000 or the previous year closer to $1.5 million.
The budget is coming up for adoption and Public Comments this week as the Board of Commissioners meet for the Public Hearing at 5:30 p.m. and the Regular Meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2020. The BOC did cancel their Wednesday Worksession.