By Lee Weyhrich
Pinson residents may soon be getting new garbage service.
Pinson City Councilman Joe Cochran on Thursday urged the city council to consider taking bids on garbage pickup.
Garbage service in Pinson is currently handled by Jefferson County, but Cochran believes the move to a private contractor could save more than $30,000 and make recycling easier.
Cochran’s announcement comes the same month the Clay City Council voted to approve BFI Waste Systems’ bid for garbage pickup, which includes curbside recycling.
Clay residents will now pay $13.65 per month, which includes mandatory recycling. Clay residents will keep the garbage cans they have now, and a separate 95-gallon bin for recycling will be distributed to them.
In other news, Councilman John Churchwell announced that eight to 10 large pine trees caused significant damage in the Leslie Drive area as a result of last week’s storms. Only one home sustained serious damage, but the owners were away on vacation, he said.
Cochran also pushed for city employee vacation time. Most city employees are part time and have never received vacation days, Cochran said.
“Currently, our library employees have the benefits of the library system,” Cochran said. “Most of our employees have worked for years without vacation.”
Cochran urged for the city to put a plan in place before the beginning of the summer vacation season.
Councilman Robbie Roberts said the Pinson Public Library is in need of space. The computer lab needs to be expanded to meet demand. The library averages more than 50 computer users each day. There are currently six desks with no room for a second chair to be pulled up to any station
. The council will look into expanding the lab into an adjacent, unused room.
The council also voted to spend more than $2,000 for a new sound system for the Rudd Middle School gym. The sound system will be used for assemblies and meetings.
The council is looking for volunteers to fill two board positions, one one the library board and one on the planning commission. Both positions are open only to Pinson residents.
For more information, visit www.thecityofpinson.com.