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Citizen debates garbage bill with supervisor |
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Tuesday, 07 October 2008 |
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By Jeannetta Edwards
Daily Times Leader
Saying his business had been closed for two years and no garbage had been collected, George Roby appeared before the Clay County Board of Supervisors on Monday and requested the delinquent $330 be waived.
Supervisor Floyd McKee, District 5, was not in a forgiving mood and angrily accused Roby of trying to “beat the system.”
“You are just trying to beat the system. You are hurting the schools,” said McKee.
Roby, owner of The Box, a cafe, said his business had been closed for two years and the lights were on minimum billing in his aunt’s name. McKee continued to rebuff Roby with questions about his business license and his truck tags. Additionally, McKee accused Roby of throwing a party at which the Clay County Sheriff Department responded to complaint calls. Roby denied having the party or having the sheriff deputies respond to calls on his property.
“Don’t sit there and tell that lie,” said Roby.
District 2 Supervisor Luke Lummus intervened, explaining the law requires the county to provide garbage collection service whenever lights are turned on at a location.
“When the electricity is turned on, we have to provide that service by law, whether you use it or not” said Lummus. “And we have to bill everybody the same. If you leave the lights on you will be billed.”
Roby said he did not mind paying the residential garbage bill of $7 a month, he was objecting to the business billing of $75 a month.
“Right now we are losing money,” said Lummus. “Our fiscal year started Oct. 1 and the rates will be going up.”
Also appearing at the board meeting were Jerelyn Burroughs and Karen McPherson with the Department of Health, who requested permission to use the WIN office adjacent to the health department when the employment service moves to their new location later this month. The utilities for the additional space would be paid by the health department. The board granted the request.
Tax Collector Teretha Rupert requested approval to enter into an agreement allowing credit and debit cards to be accepted in the tax collector’s office.
“We are trying to make it more convenient for our customers,” said Rupert. “We’ve had a lot of requests for it.”
According to Rupert, CashFlow would provide the service to the county. Since the county cannot pay a fee, the 3 percent convenience fee would be charged to the cardholder, if they elected to use this payment method. Rupert said CashFlow also agreed chargebacks would be handled by a third party, meaning once the charge was authorized, the county would not be responsible for chargebacks. The county would have to install jacks for the four terminals, two of which would be furnished by CashFlow.
While reviewing the contract, Lee Coleman, board attorney, noticed some discrepancies and pointed them out to Rupert. He advised the Board to delay approval until he spoke with the company’s representative and cleared up the language of the contract.
“I think you did a good job of investigating the companies,” said Coleman. “We just need to be sure what the contract says is what they are going to do.”
Rupert reported she had collected $39,735 of the delinquent 2007 taxes since June. She is still collecting 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Bill Blakenship questioned the driver’s license volunteer firefighters must have to drive the fire truck.
“I went to Jackson and talked to Larry Barr,” said Blakenship regarding whether or not the volunteers had to have a CDL, “and he said it was not law, yet. I recommend the Board not require the volunteers to get a CDL.”
Coleman was directed to look into the matter and advise the board.
District 5 Supervisor Shelton Deanes was absent. The Board meets again at 9 a.m. on Thursday in the board room in the county courthouse.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 )
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