New Brockton considers starting garbage pickup

New Brockton Town Council members are seeking new ways to generate funds, and one of those ways may be providing the residents with garbage pickup service.

New Brockton Mayor Lenwood Herron told council members Monday night he and a city employee “looked at garbage trucks that were used in several of the local towns, like Elba, Opp, Kinston and Hartford.

These towns provide their own garbage service, and we’ve looked at the kinds of trucks they have.” Herron said the towns and cities he named have “gone back into the garbage business after they started generating money their town or city needed.”

Herron made a motion for bids “to be put out for a company to built a garbage truck by the town’s specifications,” including the garbage collection containers. The motion was approved.

“We could generate $8,000 a month,” he said. “It will cost the town about $145,000 to $165,000, but in five years, this will be paid off and we’ll start making money in the business.”

The town now has a contract with Arrow to provide garbage service for residents. In other business Monday night, council members voted to approve any federal stimulus package funds that may become available.

“The state provided a strict deadline, but they haven’t provided anyone with the applications to fill out. We’ll develop a pre-application to make sure we make a deadline of May 7,” Herron said.

The town proposed a package of stimulus funding grants earlier this year for energy upgrades, economic growth packages and other prospects in case the funds became available.

A Law Enforcement Traffic Safety grant to be submitted for the New Brockton Drama Team was approved by the council. Herron said the program has grown to almost 30 students who meet at Town Hall twice a week.

The team involves teens and children who learn singing, sign language, marital arts and more activities.