By Terry Schrimscher, For The Tribune
CLAY — The Clay City Council met Tuesday night, February 8, for the first of two scheduled monthly meetings. The Council had only one item on the agenda.
In a unanimous vote, the Council authorized Mayor Charles Webster to renew waste disposal contracts with Republic Services, the city’s current vendor for garbage and debris collection.
“Mayor, this is a resolution to authorize you to sign the garbage contract when the extension comes in,” City Manager Ronnie Dixon said. “I gave you the quote from Republic last time. They do wish to extend the contract.” Dixon said the new contract increases rates by 88 cents per quarter.
According to representatives from Republic Services, residents currently pay $34.90 per quarter for one can and $43.41 for two cans. Republic previously held contracts with the city, but Santek Waste Disposal won bids for the service in 2019 before being acquired by Republic in 2021.
Dixon addressed concerns with roads in the Steeplechase and Copper Ridge subdivisions in his report to the city.
“There are roads within those subdivisions that have not been completed,” Dixon said. “There’s no HOA setup, there’s no streetlights, and there’s nobody to repair the roads. Of course, we can’t accept any of that as being city responsibility because of our ordinances.”
Dixon said construction traffic in the two neighborhoods had caused damage to the existing roads because they were never completed properly by the original developers. He said he had advised homeowners to form a homeowner’s association (HOA).
“They need to get on the ball and get an HOA formed,” Dixon said. “The city will support them, and we would probably be co-plaintiffs in attempting to have these builders act as the developer.”
Dixon said approximately 80 homes are in the area impacted by the crumbling roads. He estimated costs for paving to reach $250,000 and said total repairs for damages could reach much higher.
“It’s not our responsibility at this point,” Dixon said, “but in order to help and react to the residents, I think that’s going to be our course of action.”
The next meeting of the Clay City Council is on February 22.